Former Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena has been summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tomorrow (03) to provide a statement regarding an alleged tax fraud that occurred during the administration of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The investigation centers on a significant reduction in the special commodity levy on imported sugar, which was lowered from Rs. 50 to just 25 cents per kilogram. The move allegedly resulted in a substantial loss of revenue for the government, sparking allegations of tax fraud and financial misconduct.
Gunawardena, who served as the Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security at the time, has been instructed to bring all relevant files and documents pertaining to the sugar levy reduction.
The CID is expected to question him on the decision-making process behind the drastic tax cut, its impact on state revenue, and any potential beneficiaries of the policy. This investigation is part of a broader probe into financial irregularities during the Rajapaksa administration, with other high-profile officials also facing scrutiny.
Gunawardena’s appearance before the CID tomorrow could mark a critical development in the case, as authorities seek to establish whether the tax cut was a deliberate act of fraud or a policy misstep with unintended consequences.
