The Colombo Additional Magistrate has ordered the Inland Revenue Department to submit a progress report on the ongoing tax lien investigation involving model Piumi Hansamali and Aura Lanka Chairman Viranjith Thambugala.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatte issued the order today (February 3) and instructed the department to present the investigation report before the court on July 31.
The directive was issued during a hearing on the case filed by the Inland Revenue Department, which seeks to determine whether Hansamali and Thambugala violated the Tax Act under Section 190 of the Inland Revenue Act. The investigation aims to establish if the individuals failed to comply with tax regulations, potentially leading to legal consequences.
During the previous hearing, Attorney-at-law Dinesh Perera, representing the Inland Revenue Department, informed the court that a court order had been obtained to search the residences of both individuals for documents related to the case. However, the searches did not yield results, as both individuals were absent from their homes at the time of the inspection.
With the court now demanding a detailed progress report, authorities are expected to intensify efforts to ascertain the financial and tax-related activities of the two individuals in question. The case is being closely watched, as it could set precedents for tax compliance enforcement in Sri Lanka.
