Probe into film company which defamed Lanka

Anjana Samarasinghe

COLOMBO: The Department of Inland Revenue has netted a film producer who makes huge profits by producing documentary films which misleads the public on the North-East conflict and creates a negative image of Sri Lanka.

Commissioner General of Inland Revenue A. A. Wijepala told the Daily News that they raided this film production company on Wednesday in Pelawatta as it has not been paying income tax.

Meanwhile, the Department is also raiding night clubs, casinos and hotels at night to track club owners and members who have escaped the tax net.

“We recently raided a night club at a five star hotel in Colombo. This has been rented out to an outside person by the hotel. Documents such as sales records were in the dustbin when our officers asked for them,” Wijepala said.

“During our inspection of the film production company, we found that this company produces documentary films about the conflict in the country and tries to create a wrong image about the Forces. These documentaries have been sold to three major international non-Governmental organisations in the country at high prices.”

This company has got BoI approval and commenced operations in 2000.

“But they say there are here for a tsunami project. The building that the company is located in belongs to a Norwegian company. They pay Rs. 300,000 per month as rent to the Norwegian company.”

“Nearly 10 percent of the monthly payment should be paid to the Inland Revenue Department as tax but this company was unable to pay it. They earn a large amount of money by spreading wrong information to the world,” he said.

The police should cooperate with the Inland Revenue Department to nab those involved in these fradulent acts and bring the culprits to book.