The Supreme Court yesterday (30) ordered President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Treasury Secretary Harshana Sooriyapperuma to present their explanations regarding the lawsuit on the loss of Rs. 1,590 crore to the government due to tax reductions imposed on imported sugar during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency. The order was issued considering the fundamental rights petition filed by former JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti, Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and others.
The petition, filed against several respondents including the Treasury Secretary, Sri Lanka Standards Institution Chairman, Pyramid Wilmar Private Limited, its director Sajan Madusanka, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman, and Attorney General, alleges that the government suffered a loss of Rs. 15,951,598,724 due to the reduction of the tax from Rs. 50 to 25 on imported sugar, and that the benefits of the tax reduction did not go to the public but to the private company. It also requests a fine of Rs. 150 million from Pyramid Wilmar Private Limited and others for this loss.
The Supreme Court allowed the petitioners to amend the petition to include the current Treasury Minister and Secretary as respondents due to changes in their positions and ordered all respondents to submit their answers by January 19. Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and a bench comprising other judges heard the case. The petition claims the duty reduction violated fundamental rights by depriving the public of the benefits that were supposed to be passed to them via a consolidated fund. The government attorney argued there is no basis for the petition as CID investigations did not reveal criminal conduct. The court issued the order for explanations and allowed petition amendment.
