Arjun Joseph Aloysius and A. R. Dinendra, two Directors of the W. M. Mendis and Company, have been ordered yesterday by Colombo Additional Magistrate T.N.L. Ilangasinghe to be freed on two sureties totaling Rs. 15 million.
This had to do with a matter that the Department of Inland Revenue had brought up over the failure to pay the State-owned taxes of Rs. 1,678,795,049.00.
Another W.M. Mendis Company director was also given notice by the Additional Magistrate to appear in court on the subsequent calling day.
The W.M. Mendis and Company was accused by the Department of Inland Revenue of cheating the State out of more than Rs. 6 billion in taxes owing.
According to the complaint made by the Inland Revenue Department, W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited, with an address of No. 309/5, Negombo Road, Welisara, owes back taxes.
The two respondents were represented by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, who informed the Magistrate that they had been granted a license on August 22 in exchange for paying back taxes. The President’s Counsel said that they will take the appropriate actions to pay the aforementioned tax sum as soon as feasible.
The respondent party was advised by the Magistrate to talk with the prosecution about how to pay the back taxes to the Inland Revenue Department and to update the court on the next court date. The Magistrate scheduled more questions for October 3.