News

2 companies go missing after non payment of Excise taxes!

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2023

editor

It has been revealed that 07 institutions have pending excise tax payments and 02 companies that are to pay over Rs. 1.5 billion have gone missing without a trace.

The revelations were made during the Ways and Means Committee meeting held at the Parliament Complex yesterday (20) which was chaired by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.

According to a parliament media release, the two companies that have gone missing are Globe Blender and Wayamba Spirits warehouse.

It is also said that these two companies have also not submitted payment plans while the other companies have worked according to the payment plans.

It has also been emphasized at the meeting to suspend the companies’ licenses by Oct. 30 if they fail to pay the arrears amount before October 15.

Meanwhile, it has also been emphasized it should be probed as to how the scam behind sticker attached to liquor bottles, was done.

It was also urged by the committee chairman to calculate the total amount of fines obtained over this scam since Sep. 07, 2023 and to calculate the total revenue loss incurred by the Excise Department in this manner.

It was further revealed that out of the samples checked, 90% of the stickers were proven as fake.

News

Ex-Immigration Controller pleads guilty

Published

17 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Controller of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Illukpitiya, today (July 01) unconditionally pleaded guilty before the Supreme Court in a case related to contempt of court.

The charge stemmed from his failure to comply with a court order related to the e-visa issuance process.

The Supreme Court announced that sentencing will take place on July 24.

News

Nishantha Wickramasinghe remanded again (Update)

Published

19 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Former SriLankan Airlines Chairman – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been remanded till July 15 by Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga.

(Previous news 2025 July 01,12.15pm.)

Ex-SriLankan Airlines chief produced before court

Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials today (July 01).

Wickramasinghe was arrested last week by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and is currently in remand custody,

News

Seat belt compulsory for bus drivers from today

Published

2 hours ago

July 1, 2025

editor

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced that starting today (July 01), it will be mandatory for all bus drivers to wear seat belts, with strict penalties for non-compliance.

Under the MotorTraffic Act, bus drivers are legally required to wear seat belts, but a rise in accidents due to drivers ignoring this rule has prompted the authorities to re-enforce it.

Police confirmed that action will be taken against drivers who fail to comply.

Seat belts to be made mandatory for all passengers in expressways

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport has also stated that wearing seat belts will be made mandatory to all passengers of light vehicles travelling on expressways from August 01, 2025.

Meanwhile, wearing seat belts will also be mandatory to all passengers of all vehicles on expressways from September 01, 2025.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake also confirmed the directive while speaking to media this morning (July 01) during an inspection tour at the Colombo Central Bus Stand.