Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe yesterday ordered the directors of Randenigala Distilleries Lanka Ltd. to appear in Court on 17 December over allegations of tax evasion amounting to Rs. 1.35 billion.

The case, filed by the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue, accuses the company of evading Rs. 1,358,773,144 in income tax, VAT, and nation-building tax between 2012 and 2015. The respondents included R.D.S. Kumara Wijewicrama, Buddhika Wijewicrama, and another director.

During the hearing, only one director was present in Court. Lawyers representing the respondents informed the court that the accused were willing to settle the outstanding taxes within a week. Attorney Dinesh Perera, representing the Inland Revenue Department, stated that the department’s stance on the matter would be presented at the next hearing if the taxes were paid as promised.

Following submissions from both parties, the Additional Magistrate instructed the respondents to settle the outstanding tax payments and submit relevant reports before the next court date.

In March 2024, the Inland Revenue Department filed three separate cases (No. B 13052/09, B 13053/09, and B 13054/09) against the company in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Additionally, in November 2023, the Excise Department temporarily suspended alcohol production at Randenigala Distilleries due to unpaid tax arrears. The company’s licence renewal had been denied for the same reason. The Randenigala Group of Companies is chaired by R.D.S. Kumara Wijewicrama.