State Minister and opposition MP claim credit for checkmating liquor tax defaulters

8 November 2023 06:51 am - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - Whilst State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya claimed that a sum of Rs 6,721 million is to be collected from five liquor manufacturing companies which have defaulted taxes, opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka claimed that it was the Committee on Ways and Means headed by him that paved the way for the possible collection of the said amount.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya said the amount which the five companies have to settle is Rs 2,715 million but it had come to Rs 6, 721 million with three percent surcharge. “These companies have filed legal action after their licenses were cancelled and the next hearing is due on November 13,” the State Minister said.

Meanwhile MP Ranawaka said it was the Ways and Means Committee which recommended that liquor bottles with counterfeit stickers should be confiscated. “We also revealed that counterfeit stickers were the main reason for the revenue fall of Excise Department. However, the reason given was the low sales of liquor after tax increment. However, we found out that the reason for the revenue loss were the counterfeit stickers pasted on illicit liquor bottles. Also media institutions have been asked not to publish my statements with regard to the issue,” he said.

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Comments - 7

joshua Wednesday, 08 November 2023 08:40 AM

Credit kaakao

Ram Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:41 AM

More than seeking credit, the Minister and the MP must focus on the pending court case not to lose it.

This is reality Wednesday, 08 November 2023 11:20 AM

2715 million x 3% surcharge = 6721 million? What kind of maths is this? Anyway, our politicians are notorious for basking in someone else's glory yeah!

N V Jen Wednesday, 08 November 2023 12:02 PM

What's the point? Most of this tax money will be spent on the tamasha's of the ruling party good for nothing Ministers and MP's and also to keep alive the loss making SOE's.

Roger D S Wednesday, 08 November 2023 12:50 PM

Good both government

Roger D S Wednesday, 08 November 2023 07:02 PM

Good both opposition

Sambo Wednesday, 08 November 2023 08:13 PM

This government wants all the losses and mis handling kept a secret from the public. I am sure many from the excise department are involved in the sticker problem.

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State Minister and opposition MP claim credit for checkmating liquor tax defaulters

Comments - 7

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