The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has denied the bail request for two individuals, including Arjun Aloysius, director of W.M. Mendis & Company, who was sentenced to six months in prison for evading the payment of 3.5 billion rupees in VAT owed to the government.
President’s Counsel Rasik Saruk, representing the defendants, argued before the court, seeking bail on the grounds that the case had now evolved into a criminal matter.
However, delivering the ruling, Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe explained that the case was filed by the Inland Revenue Department based on a certificate. The Magistrate further clarified that the bail request was denied, as it falls under alternative punishment, not constituting a criminal offense.
