Despite the passage of three years and the pressure exerted by various parties and groups, investigations into the sugar scam, which resulted in a loss of nearly Rs. 16 billion in tax revenue for the state, have yet to be completed.
In October 2020, the then Gotabaya Rajapaksa government suddenly reduced the duty on sugar imports from Rs. 50 per kilo to 25 cents. This reduction benefited a group of importers who enjoyed political support, but it deprived the state of much-needed revenue amounting to Rs. 16 billion.
The Committee on Public Finance (COPF), led by MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa at the time, also conducted an inquiry into the matter and uncovered details about the scam.
Over the past three years, various individuals, including politicians from different parties, have raised the issue, but investigations have not yet been concluded.
Yesterday, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella once again raised the matter in Parliament and questioned why investigations had not been carried out despite the significant loss suffered by the financially strained government.
“How can we tolerate economic crimes of this nature when the government is facing a revenue crisis?” he asked.
Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), Lasantha Alagiyawanna, stated that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has informed them that investigations are still ongoing.
“The COPA has been informed that investigations are in progress,” he confirmed.
