UPFA MP Sisira Jayakody filed a Special Determination petition with the Supreme Court on the VAT (Amendment) Bill tabled in Parliament on July 8.

In his petition, the MP argues that clauses 2 to 15 of the bill are in contravention of a number of Articles in the Constitution including Articles 3, 4, 12 (1), 12 (2), 72 to 75, 80, 148, 149, 150 and 152.

The petition requests the Supreme Court to declare that the two thirds majority in Parliament and a referendum is required to approve the bill in the present version.

The government had earlier planned to take up the debate on the bill on July 20. However, the debate will now be delayed due to the court process.