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SLRC has not paid VAT for 5 yrs?

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State owned national TV – Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation owes the Department of Inland Revenue (IRD) nearly Rs. 750 million as unpaid Value-added Tax (VAT), reports reveal.

It is said that the SLRC had not paid VAT for nearly 05 years.

In this backdrop, the IRD is reportedly taking measures to collect these unpaid taxes from companies that owe money to the SLRC.

Accordingly, the Acting Commissioner General of the IRD has informed the Development Lotteries Board to pay the IRD nearly Rs. 40 million it owes the SLRC monthly, for telecasting lottery draws.

Meanwhile, Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe, who has been functioning as the Chairman of the SLRC for nearly 05 months now, has also reportedly pulled strings to evade paying this tax.

It is said higher officials and the Acting Commissioner General of the IRD have been pressured over the matter, through Media Minister – Bandula Gunawardena, requesting leniency until the end of this year.

However, if a small scale entrepreneur had chosen to pay salaries and other expenses while leaving the taxes unpaid, the IRD would have sought legal redress.

The cause given by the SLRC Chairman for this tax evasion, is the major income slump being faced by the channel.

However, Trade Union representatives are of the view that the Chairman has been trying to peck into the SLRC’s YouTube channel earnings instead of motivating the staff to come up with productions to elevate the channel.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that the conduct of Mr. Samarasinghe had led to IRD doubting whether he is correctly paying taxes due for his local and offshore properties in Australia.

Busy day
Upon contacting the Acting Commissioner General of the IRD  – Mr. Upul Jayawardena in this regard, ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ was told that he is unable to answer our query today as he is tied up with several discussions related to Budget 2024, throughout the day.

VAT increase due to this?
Meanwhile, Cabinet approval was recently granted to increase VAT from 15% to 18% from Jan. 01, 2024.

Speaking to ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ on condition of anonymity, several company owners that are paying taxes, claimed that non-payment of taxes by state institutions had been a factor behind the decision to increase VAT.

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08 Dansals suspended over health concerns

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Steps have been taken to suspend eight ‘Dansal’ that failed to meet with proper health and safety procedures, the Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union said.

PHI Union Secretary Chamil Muthukuda stated that permission was granted for another 17 Dansals to operate after complying with guidelines.

The union says that Dansal inspections will continue today (May 13) as well.

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Teen found dead in house fire

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A 19-year-old female has been found dead under suspicious circumstances at a house on Vihara Mawatha in Kottawa.


According to police, the body of the young woman was found burnt beyond recognition while the roof of the house had sustained significant damage from the fire.

The girl’s mother and two brothers were away from home at the time of the incident, police said.

Firefighters from the Kotte Sri Jayewardenepura Fire Department, assisted by local residents had attempted to douse the flames but the girl had already died by the time they arrived.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. 

The Nugegoda Crime Scene Investigation Unit is conducting further inquiries.

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3 police teams deployed to arrest ‘Teacher Amma’

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Three police teams have been deployed to arrest Hayeshika Fernando, a popular private tutor known as “Teacher Amma,” over allegedly kicking a young man in the lower abdomen and groin.

According to police sources, the suspect is in hiding with her daughter and has switched off her phone.

Investigations have revealed that the assault was in retaliation over a Facebook post by the victim’s sister about Hayeshika. She, along with her husband and her institute’s manager, had allegedly assaulted the youth.

Katana police have already arrested two said to be Hayeshika’s husband and the institute’s manager.  They were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and remanded until May 14.

The assaulted youth has been admitted to the Negombo hospital for treatment.

Reportedly, Hayeshika had instructed the youth to train a female employee in computer use. During the session, he allegedly behaved inappropriately, prompting Hayeshika’s husband, and the institute manager to accompany the female employee to file a complaint with the Katana Police.

Following statements from both parties, it was revealed that Hayeshika, her husband, and the manager had physically assaulted the youth.

Although her husband and the manager were taken into custody, Hayeshika Fernando fled with her daughter when police attempted to arrest her at her residence.

Under the instructions of Senior DIG Sanjeewa Dharmaratne and the supervision of SSP Ashoka Dharmasena, Chief Inspector Wasantha Sudasinghe and other officers from Katana Police are conducting further investigations.

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