A.T.B.N. Keerthiratne v. Crest Gems Limited – CA PHC 16/2000-2000

In the case between A.T.B.N. Keerthiratne, Revenue Inspector, Colombo Municipal Council, and Crest Gems Limited, the central issue concerned the Colombo Municipal Council’s authority under Section 247B of the Municipal Council Ordinance to levy an annual tax for the year 1995 on Crest Gems Limited’s business activities, alongside the applicability of the prescription period stipulated in Section 308 of the Ordinance. It was determined that the action was not prescribed and that the terms “industry,” “trade,” and “karmanthaya”—as interpreted in both the Sinhala and English versions—encompassed businesses such as jewelry sales and manufacturing carried out by Crest Gems Limited. The court reaffirmed that taxation under Section 247B applies to both manufacturing and trading activities, relyin