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Colombo, Feb 24 (Daily Mirror) - Arjun Aloysius, Director of W.M. Mendis Distilleries, and two others, who were serving a jail term for defaulting on a payment of Rs. 3.5 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) by the company, were released from prison two months early based on their good behavior within the prison.
Prison spokesman Gamini Dissanayake said they were released from the Welikada Prison on Saturday.
In October of last year, the trio were sentenced to a six-month jail term by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for failing to pay the VAT amounting to Rs. 3.5 billion.
The spokesman said that prisoners can earn points based on their conduct and active participation in work programmes within the prison. These points contribute to reducing their sentence by one-third.
As a result, Arjun Aloysius and the others were released two months early.
However, the spokesman clarified that the 3/1 good behavior rule, which allows prisoners to reduce their sentences through good conduct and participation in prison work programmes, applies only to those sentenced to fixed jail terms and not to those serving life sentences.
Comments - 30
Comments - Good behavior earns Arjun Aloysius early release from prison
Ranga Monday, 24 February 2025 08:41 AM
Someone needs to ask the prison department to release documents under how many has been released under this program to get to the bottom of this
535
Arjun Aloysius should be kept in prison until the billions are paid Monday, 24 February 2025 10:05 AM
The only big crook are the directors of the alcohol beverage company. They in effect have swindled many billions with having punishment of only four months. They need to be locked up again, if need be with new laws being passed with life sentences for those who have more than 1 billion to pay back to government, with sentence reduction for amount paid back, after personal asset sales. However, to attack all prisoners who are released on good behaviour is wrong, it is just the nation swindlers like Arjun Aloysius that need to be locked up to get back money.
315
Ram P Monday, 24 February 2025 08:51 AM
My worry is if he would escape the 3 Billion VAT default. He has alraedy collected from us the cusromers this VAT money. Will the default be setoff against his spent time in Prison. I recal in 2014 a Deputy Commissioner at IRD who over a period of time helped businessmen to escape VAT in a total of 4Billion received a 3 Year Jail term together with a fine of 12 Billion. If fine not paid in a month all his assets to be sold to recover the fine. He had assets worth Billions that he failed to explain and pleaded guilty to the charges. I bow to that Judge who is presently a Justice in the SC
220
Nihal S Monday, 24 February 2025 09:08 AM
I think the report content can be mis-interpreted. The 6 months jail term was not for defaulting the VAT payment of Rs 3.5 B. The jail term was due to them not obligating to the court order for its payment. In other words, this 6 months jail term does not remove their responsibility for the VAT payment to the Government. The Company has to pay this amount, maybe they have already paid it.
Pls correct me if my understanding is wrong. Thank u.
330
Saman, ACCA Monday, 24 February 2025 12:09 PM
You are wrong. Once company directors punished to dull extent of the law, the company has no fear of further punishment. The directors are ultimately responsible for company failure and they are free with no needing to anymore payback the money.
10
sarath gooneratne Monday, 24 February 2025 09:10 AM
So, does it mean he does not have to pay 3.5 Billion rupees to the Government now ?
If so he has earned 3.5 Billion rupees jut by staying in jail for 4 months. Not bad !!
No one in Sri Lanka will pay vat in that case. Accumulate about 10 Million in vat and go to jail for 10 days !! A million rupees a day income !!
912
Supiri Monday, 24 February 2025 09:11 AM
I am increasingly believing that there is a deep state government operating in Sri Lanka. 6 months for not paying 3.8 billion in taxes is a super deal which all of us like to cash in on. What kind of message is the judiciary and government sending the public????
811
BanduXX Monday, 24 February 2025 10:17 AM
Read Nihal S above. The taxes still payable. Prison sentence only for not complying to pay on court ordered day.
118
Saman, ACCA Monday, 24 February 2025 12:11 PM
The directors are now completely free. They cannot again be punished for the same crime. If they thought punishment was terrible, they could appeal and hold up matters for decades. Instead they knew all along the worst case scenario, and choose not to pay as the profit of their crime is well worthwhile.
10
Spartacus Monday, 24 February 2025 09:22 AM
This is a country of pure corruption specially in government departments and it is definite this guy would have bought those points to exit early like the way he bribed all Politicians from Bond Scam to avoiding paying taxes.
18
S. K Monday, 24 February 2025 09:27 AM
Hope he'll continue his good behavior even after his release. Good behavior is not only his physical and verbal behavior, the importance is his intentions. During his jail term, if he was behaving properly with the thought to reduce his jail term, now problem may syart
Not doing illegal things, should go with the intention of honesty. Then he wouldn't need to cheat himself. World is in chaos now, and peace starts from individual mind.
12
Rishard Monday, 24 February 2025 09:37 AM
Good behaviour equals funding the NPP!
77
IshaA Monday, 24 February 2025 11:15 AM
May apply to previous regimes but not the NPP.
22
Indra Dasa Monday, 24 February 2025 09:44 AM
These types of Behavioural assessments should be conducted by forensic Psychologists to determined such offenders vulnerability to reoffend but not by jail staff . The forensic report needs to be send to the sentencing judge to make the judgement whether the offender should be released or not Or impose more jail time until paid off all owed Taxes to the government .
10
Rec Monday, 24 February 2025 10:15 AM
That will be an addition to the sharing pool!
10
Grace Monday, 24 February 2025 09:49 AM
Insulting the intelligence of the masses.
24
Suhada malli Monday, 24 February 2025 12:43 PM
The intelligence of the masses for 76 years a majority voted for govts that according to the NPP/AKD campaigns has ruined this country. In 2019 6.9m of these maAsses voted for a president named Gotabaya and now in 2024 we have 6.8m who voted for AKD and NPP who lied through their teeth. So we on our own had insulted our intellect. (if we have such)
02
Be Fair Monday, 24 February 2025 10:01 AM
Arjun is a Good Boy, always has been
43
Mahendran Monday, 24 February 2025 02:28 PM
Good guy.
01
Prof. J.A. Janz Monday, 24 February 2025 10:42 AM
If Arjun Aloysius behaved decently in the Prison he should decently go to Singapore and get his Father-in-law who is hiding after robbing our Central Bank.
01
Truth Monday, 24 February 2025 10:45 AM
Wolf in sheep's clothes.
01
D.P. Jayasekera - Large scale Businessman Monday, 24 February 2025 10:46 AM
Releasing Arjun from the Prison is not a good sign. Now Mahendran will take the upper hand.
01
Tudor Attapattu Monday, 24 February 2025 10:49 AM
I don't believe these rotten fellows who make billions and billions on Liquor business out of our water resources.
01
Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 24 February 2025 10:55 AM
Good behavior means promising to help NPP local government campaigns with funds and material.
23
Dilakshan Senevirathne Monday, 24 February 2025 06:36 PM
Fake Doctor from Nicaragua is always says something against. Arjun Alloysius is entitled to same privileges given to other prisoners. So good behavior resulted in early release. There is nothing wring with that.
21
Mervn Silva Monday, 24 February 2025 11:37 AM
Minister and his golayas should immediately be sent for a medical phychiatric checkup and those below pass mark be sent for therapy / treatment. Best get the 225 club also be sent for same. Few days back an important MP by maybe out of his sense had got excited and called on his mobile and asked for a Donkey instead of asking for a car.
Unless this is cleared seems other department menia too might spread.
01
Labby Monday, 24 February 2025 01:10 PM
So where's the punishment for unpaid taxes? Is his liquor production licence suspended or still not?
03
Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 24 February 2025 04:56 PM
Good behavior by joining NPP will result in waiver of the VAT payable too.
11
Mk Monday, 24 February 2025 08:11 PM
Horu allanna awilla NPP horu tika eliyata daanawa! This is change.
00
Seqi Tuesday, 25 February 2025 09:56 AM
Under company law directors have little or no liability.... They are not the company. But of course while it is smooth sailing they will strut around like danddies on the board walk.
00
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