News
AG tells Supreme Court errant liquor manufacturers have agreed to pay tax arrears before end of November
…Rs 6 bn to be collected
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle yesterday (13) informed Supreme Court that five liquor manufacturing companies, including W. M. Mendis & Co Ltd and Royal Casks Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, had agreed to pay tax arrears by the end of this month.
The tax arrears amounted to nearly Rs. 6 billion. The Attorney General informed the SC that the Department of Excise would suspend their licences unless they paid the arrears by 30 Nov.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, representing the Excise Commissioner General, informed the court of the decision when a fundamental rights petition filed by social activist Sanjaya Mahawaththa and several others was taken up yesterday (13).
The petition was heard before a bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Priyantha Fernando.
The Additional Solicitor General stated that five liquor manufacturing companies including W. M. Mendis & Co Ltd and Royal Casks Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, named as respondents, had agreed to pay the arrears by the end of the month.
The three-judge panel ordered a follow-up hearing on 22 Jan, directing the respondents to report on their progress.
The petitioners argued that the prolonged tax defaults had significantly impacted the national economy and requested that the Excise Department enforce the collection of overdue taxes and suspend licences for non-compliance.
News
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Considering the proposals forwarded by the District Coordination Committees, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 20-07-2026 to appoint a committee under the chairmanship of an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps and submit recommendations regarding taking over the roads that do not belong to the Road Development Authority and are currently maintained under Provincial Councils or Local Government Institutes.
Taking into account the recommendations submitted by the aforementioned committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps for upgrading the said roads and to declare them as national highways, after examining fundamental qualifications, technical potential, and relevant criteria.
News
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
The Cabinet has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to enter into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the policy-based
financial facility of US$ 50 million provided by the Regular General Capital Resources and US$ 50 million provided by the Concessional General Capital Resources of the Asian Development Bank for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2)
A special delegation led by Deokuju Jung, President of the Korean Volunteer Association for Distinguished Service to the State, met Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (12) afternoon .
The discussions focused extensively on welfare programmes the association expects to implement in Sri Lanka and the support it hopes to obtain from the Government of Sri Lanka for these initiatives.
Attention was also given to the proposed implementation of a comprehensive programme in collaboration with the Government to support children with special needs in Sri Lanka.
The meeting was also attended by Ven. Wanawasi Rahula Thero, Founder of Namal Uyana and Chief Incumbent of the Namal Uyana Forest Monastery, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage and Korean Volunteer Association representatives Jungsun Choi, Junyoon Lim, Chaeeun Kim and Wonwook Choi.
[President’s Media Division]
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
Delegation from Korean Volunteer Association meet Secretary to the President
Imran Khan’s PTI braces to fight federal takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Nissanka’s return headlines Sri Lanka’s Test squad against Pakistan
HRCSL issues recommendation on seizure of four books by B. Piratheepan by Sri Lanka Customs
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features6 days agoThe Sri Lankan who made Scottish history
-
Sports6 days agoNissanka absence opens door for Sri Lanka’s young guns
-
News5 days agoNDB fraud Rs 60mn more than reported
-
News7 days agoGnansara Thera to be assigned to prison printing section: Officials
-
News5 days agoRemoving monk’s robes matter for Sangha to decide: Mahanayake Theras
-
News7 days agoOIC of FCID summoned before Maligakanda Magistrate
-
Features6 days agoFuture of Sri Lanka’s state university system: Should it be shut down and reopened?
-
News6 days agoShiranthi R remanded until 13 Oct.