Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe on Tuesday ordered the directors of the Randenigala Distilleries Lanka (Pvt) Ltd to appear before court on the 17th of December.
The order was issued against directors Sarath Kumara Wijewikrama, Buddhika Wijewikrama, and another director of the company over allegations of evading taxes amounting to Rs. 1.35 billion.
The case, filed by the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue, alleges that the company evaded Rs. 1,358,773,144 in income tax, VAT, and nation-building tax between 2012 and 2015.
During thehearing, only one director had appeared in court. Lawyers representing the respondents informed court that the accused were prepared to pay the outstanding taxes within a week.
Attorney Dinesh Perera, appearing on behalf of the Commissioner General, stated that if the taxes are paid, the department’s stance on the matter could be presented at the next hearing.
After considering submissions from both parties, the Additional Magistrate instructed the respondents to make the tax payments before the next hearing and present relevant reports to the court.
