VAT (Amendment) Bill passed with majority of 45

The Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 45 votes without amendments. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the Parliament that the third reading of the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed yesterday with a majority vote.

A total of 100 members voted for the Bill while 55 voted against it. Meanwhile, 69 MPs were not present in the chamber when the voting was conducted.

Following the Committee Stage on the Appropriation Bill 2024, the Second Reading of the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading of the Bill was held at around 4.35 pm, and it was passed by a majority of 57 votes.

There were 98 votes in favour and 41 votes against, and 85 MPs were not present in the chamber at the time of voting. Then amendments were added to the Bill during the Committee Stage.

On both occasions, MPs Nimal Lanza, John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, L.M. Ataullah, Priyankara Jayaratne as well as SJB MP Vadivel Suresh voted in favour of the Bill.

Meanwhile, MP Roshan Ranasinghe, representing the ruling party, voted against the Bill on both occasions. MPs representing Samagi Jana Balawega, Jathika Jana Balawega and independent groups voted against the Bill. However, the TNA was not present in the chamber at the time of polling. Former President Maithripala Sirisena, MP Chamal Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa were also not present in the Assembly when the polling was conducted.

Meanwhile, MP Asanka Navaratne, who came after the voting, was not given the opportunity to cast his vote in the first instance of voting and then he used his vote in the second instance. Accordingly, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday by majority vote.

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe started the debate related to the VAT (Amendment) Bill and he stated that there is no need for a debate on this matter.

The State Minister said that a special debate was given for this day before yesterday (10) and the Opposition disrupted the debate by stating that there was no quorum, so there is no need for a debate. State Minister Semasinghe stated that since the Opposition did not take the opportunity given to them, there is no need for a debate and therefore the polling should be held.

Accordingly, the Speaker ordered the bell to be rung at around 5:00 pm. Accordingly, the related polling took place.

The post VAT (Amendment) Bill passed with majority of 45 appeared first on DailyNews.