The Court of Appeal has scheduled further hearings for 28th of May in response to writ petitions filed by Sri Lanka’s national cricketers challenging their classification as employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Laffar, along with Justice K. Priyantha Fernando, issued the order following petitions submitted by ODI captain Charith Asalanka, Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva, and national women’s cricketers Chamari Athapaththu and Anushka Sanjeewani.
Counsel Nishan Premathirathne, representing the petitioners, argued that national players are not employees of SLC and that the IRD’s interpretation under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 45 of 2022 is incorrect.
President’s Counsel Kuvera de Zoysa, appearing for SLC, also confirmed the players act as independent service providers, not employees.
However, Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe, representing the respondents, stated that players under contract with SLC are regarded as employees according to the amended Act.
The players are seeking judicial review, asserting that the IRD’s classification and SLC’s actions are arbitrary and unlawful. They have also requested an interim order to suspend the IRD’s decision.
