News

Customs tax offender list to go public from June

Published

4 weeks ago

May 5, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Customs announced its plan to publicly disclose the identities of individuals and organisations found guilty of violating Customs regulations and engaging in tax fraud and evasion.

Accordingly, the names of these offenders will be published on the official website of Sri Lanka Customs, as a part of the broader initiative to curb Customs-related financial misconduct and ensure accurate tax collection.

This proactive measure is designed to deter deliberate tax evasion, promote responsible conduct among importers and exporters, and safeguard state revenue. By discouraging unlawful cross-border trade practices, Customs aims to reduce the smuggling of goods and reinforce compliance with import-export laws.

All disclosures will follow thorough investigations conducted under the Customs Ordinance and will only be made after a formal inquiry verifies the offence.

Sri Lanka Customs has also established a dedicated unit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, under the guidance of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank. This specialised unit will investigate suspicious entities linked to Customs violations and refer credible cases to the FIU and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further action.

The initiative is to be launched 2025 June, with updates and offender details accessible to the public via the official website of the Sri Lanka Customs www.customs.gov.lk.

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

(This story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.