The new government is reviewing the contents of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), SOFA and ACSA agreements and will not sign such agreemtns until after they are reviewed, the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today (Dec 13).
Accordingly, the Supreme Court today decided to consider the Fundamental Rights petitions demanding the issuance of an interim injunction to prevent the Government of Sri Lanka from proceeding with these agreements, to be considered on March 25.
Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel appeared on behalf of the Attorney General when the petitions were taken up before a five-judge bench headed by Supreme Court Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare.
Attorney Sanjeewa Jayawardena, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, said that the petitioners had filed fundamental rights petitions in courts as former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera was preparing to sign the agreements in a hurry.
The petitions have been filed by three parties including the Government Medical Officers Association. The petitioners claim that these agreements violate the fundamental rights of the public.
Tamar Amitai, a 25-year-old Israeli tourist who went missing in Uppuveli, Trincomalee, was found safe after a three-day joint search operation today.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is firm about the President’s five-year tenure, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
Individuals who have obtained a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) yet do not meet the cutoff, can choose to remain tax exempt after notifying the IRD in writing, provided that their monthly income does not surpass the threshold, according to the State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
Leave Comments