AG to file District Court cases over Rs. 6 billion liquor tax default

Colombo, July 20 (Daily Mirror) - The Attorney General’s Department today informed the Supreme Court that it will institute action before the District Court to recover the tax arrears owed by liquor manufacturing companies.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, appearing for the Attorney General, made this disclosure when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by 17 social activists challenging the alleged default of more than Rs. 6 billion in taxes by liquor manufacturing companies was taken up before a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere.

The 17 social activists filed the Fundamental Rights petition seeking an order directing the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to recover all outstanding tax arrears due from the liquor manufacturing companies.

The petitioners stated that as of June 15, 2023, the amount of unpaid taxes owed by the liquor manufacturing companies had risen to Rs. 6.221 billion.

The petition was filed by 17 social activists, including Sanjaya Mahawaththa, naming the Commissioner General of Excise, the State Minister of Finance, the Auditor General, W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited, Wayamba Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Globe Blenders and Bottlers Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, McCallum Brewing Co. (Pvt) Ltd, Kalutara Co-operative Distilleries Society Ltd, Finland Distilleries Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Synergy Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Randenigala Distilleries Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Hingurana Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Royal Ceylon Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd and several others as respondents.

The Supreme Court fixed the petition for further hearing on November 16.

Saliya Pieris PC, with Manujaya De Silva instructed by Manjula Balasooriya appeared for the petitioners.