Duty Free vehicle Permits Lawyer files Writ
Posted on December 20th, 2016

BY STANLEY SAMARASINGHE Courtesy Ceylon Today

Lawyer and public interest litigation activist, Nagananda Kodituwakku, yesterday filed Writs of Mandamus, in the Supreme Court against granting duty free vehicles to Members of Parliament.

According to his petition, the law permits the ministers to grant tax exemptions, only after considering the economic development of the country. MPs’ permits have also been issued with the aim of realizing this objective and for the MPs to discharge their official duties effectively for public good.

He states that Secretary to the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media had commenced issuing tax free permits to MPs in February, 2016 though he had no legal rights to grant such exemption .

Most of the vehicles imported by those who have purchased the permit have been registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) first in the name of the permit holder MP and then immediately afterwards transferred to the name the buyer.
The Petitioner request the Court to:

Issue notice on the respondents;
Nominate a special Bench comprising five or more Judges considering the grave National Importance of this matter in term of Article 132(3), (iii) of the Constitution for the hearing and determination of this matter

Issue a Writ in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus compelling the first respondent and/or members of the CIABOC (2, 3 and 4 respondents) to initiate a credible and independent investigation/inquiry into the plausible complaint made by the petitioner, under Section 4 of the CIABOC Act No. 19 of 1994 against the abuse of the tax-free permit scheme for improper purpose of unjust enrichment by those who hold public office as MPs and members of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Government of the Republic of Sri Lanka, with a direction issued to CIABOC to institute legal proceedings under Section 3 of the said Act, against the suspects who have committed the offence of corruption for the purpose of recovery of the government revenue defrauded by them and to impose sanctions as required by Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

Grant cost and such other further relief and/or declaration as Court shall seem fit.

One Response to “Duty Free vehicle Permits Lawyer files Writ”

  1. Ananda-USA Says:

    Bravo!

    Unfortunately, this is a case of shutting the barn door after the horse has been stolen!

    More Yamapalanaya GUNDUS!

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