July 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka Supreme Court today dismissed a fundamental rights petition filed by Bharati Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. challenging the price floor imposed on mobile phone tariffs.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (TRC) recently announced the introduction of price floors to mobile phone operators.

TRC's revised price floors are as follows: Off Net – Rs 2 and On Net – Rs 1 per minute basic Tariff Plans; Off Net – Rs 2.50 and On Net – Rs 1.25 per Second Basic Tariff Plans; and Off Net – Rs 0.25 and On Net – Rs 0.10 for SMS.

Airtel filed a FR petition at the Supreme Court complaining that the TRC's decision to impose a new scheme was against the interest of the customers and is beyond the scope of Commission's powers.

The company further claimed that the TRC decision prevented a level playing field and discriminated between sections of consumers and/or sections of operators.

The Supreme Court however refused to grant leave to proceed with the FR petition filed by the Bharati Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. and those filed by two consumers challenging the price floor imposed on mobile phone tariffs.