Sri Lanka, May 19 -- The proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act are draconian and aim to criminalise administrative oversights that were previously treated as civil matters.

President's Counsel and Member of Parliament Faiszer Musthapha made these remarks in Parliament today.

Simple failures, including neglecting to file an annual tax return, failing to register for tax, or failing to appear before the Commissioner General when summoned, could now result in a six-month prison sentence and a Rs.400,000 fine under the new amendments.

Musthapha pointed out that whilst large corporations employ auditors to handle these complexities, the average citizen expected to maintain a tax file will be the primary victim.

He emphasised that a...