Wimal claims VAT, NBT implementation illegal

Thursday, 12 May 2016 01:05 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

lead-NFF-Leader-Wimal-Weerawansa-at-Supreme-Court

NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa at the Supreme Court to file the FR petition. NFF Political Bureau Member Padma Udaya Shantha and Weerawansa’s lawyer are also present-pic by Shehan Gunasekara

National Freedom Front Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday claimed the implementation of increased new taxation policies on Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Nation Building Tax (NBT) was “illegal”.

Weerawansa also filed a Fundamental Rights petition at the Supreme Court against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, the Inland Revenue Commissioner General and the Attorney General. 

“The Government has implemented these new taxes without amending the relevant VAT and NBT Acts. The Parliament was not approved these increases. If any Government applies policy without Cabinet approval it is totally illegal,” he charged.

Weerawansa alleged some goods which should be exempted from VAT according to the Value Added Tax Act have been included from 2 May.

His Fundamental Rights petition calls for the Supreme Court to find the latest VAT hike illegal and issue an interim order to ban the increase.

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