Tax Bill on hold

9 August 2016 03:02 am

The government yesterday decided not to take up the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill for debate and enactment this week.

Earlier, it was scheduled to be enacted this week giving legal effect to the increase of VAT on goods and services.

However, the government decided at a meeting yesterday to shelve the enactment.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said the Bill would be amended further .

"We will not enact it this week. We will do it at the next parliamentary week only," he said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court determination on the constitutionality of the bill will be communicated to the House today. (Kelum Bandara)