Five liquor distilleries given deadline to pay arrears taxes – AG tells court
- 5opn1
- November 14, 2024
- News
- liquor distilleries
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The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the Department of Excise has decided to suspend the licenses of five liquor manufacturers, including W.M. Mendis & Co. Ltd., if they fail to pay arrears taxes before November 30, 2024.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, representing the Excise Commissioner General, informed the court of this when a fundamental rights petition filed by social activist Sanjaya Mahawaththa and others was taken up today (13).
The petition was heard before a bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Priyantha Fernando.
The three-judge panel ordered a follow-up hearing on January 22, directing the respondents to report on their progress.According to the case report, the tax arrears owed by these companies amount to nearly Rs. 6 billion.
The petitioners argue that the prolonged tax defaults have significantly impacted the national economy and requested that the Excise Department enforce the collection of overdue taxes and suspend licenses for non-compliance.
