Tax Chief denies resignation reports

Tax Chief A. Wijepala vehemently denied reports that he was expected to resign over the controversy involving the VAT scam.
“I will retire on the due date, which is next year,” he told The Sunday Times FT. “All speculation about my resignation is untrue,” he said.

The CID has submitted to the AG the reports on its findings pertaining to the VAT fraud amounting to Rs.3.75 billion, which was under investigation throughout last year. Seven suspects are held in remand while nine others are absconding.

Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said the Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Department were being streamlined in a bid to tighten the systems and procedures in a bid to close all loopholes that allow such fraud.