Parliament adjourned due to lack of quorum

Parliament sessions were adjourned today afternoon until 9.30 am tomorrow due to lack of quorum.

Parliament was today taking up the Second Reading Debate of VAT (Amendment) and Finance Bills.

Earlier in the day, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said amendments enable imposing Value-Added Tax (VAT) on 97 out of 138 previously exempted commodities in an effort to strengthen the country's revenue.

He told Parliament to that short messaging service (SMS) in fixed telephone networks will also be subject to VAT given the growing amount of text messages transmitted.

He assured that, certain goods including medicines, equipment for disabled persons, rice plus wheat flour, vegetables, fruits, liquid milk, and the ‘Suwaseriya’ ambulance service will not be taxed.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya said that since changing the tax laws, the government has seen an increase in revenue. The state plans to increase its reserves to USD 5-6 billion by boosting revenue, which will result in a permanent appreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee, he added.

The Government members present when no quorum were:

Nalin Ruwanjeewa Fernando, Bandula Gunawardane, Shantha Bandara, Siripala Gamlath, Lohan Ratwatte, Sivanesanthurai Chandrakanthan, Shehan Semasinghe, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Sampath Athukorala, Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Jayantha Ketagoda, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Jagath Kumara, Gamini Lokuge, Ajith Rajapakse, Jagath Samarawickrama, Major Pradeep Undugoda and Madhura Withanage.