The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya

¶ 01 Response to Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri:

¶ 02 1) As per information from the Department of Trade and Investment Policy of the Ministry of Finance, regarding sugar duties, by Gazette Extraordinary No. 2197/12 of 13.10.2020 (effective 14.10.2020), special commodity levy on sugar and three other items (dal, canned fish, Bombay onions) was reduced on the then President’s instruction and with the approval of the Minister of Finance to provide relief amidst cost of living pressures. The reduction of the SCL on sugar from Rs. 50 per kg to 25 cents per kg was approved by Parliament on 16.01.2021 under the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007. 2) Names and addresses of individuals/institutions were not provided by the Ministry. The Committee on Public Finance called for a report from the Ministry of Finance regarding the sugar duty reduction, and based on a report, the Auditor-General called for a special audit on the sugar duty reduction. 3) On 21.06.2022, the Committee on Public Accounts directed the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry of Finance to arrange for a CID investigation into matters contained in the said audit report. Accordingly, on 12.07.2022, the IGP referred the matter to the CID. After review, on 02.01.2025 the CID requested the Auditor-General to carry out a forensic audit; the Ministry referred this to the Auditor-General on 21.01.2025. On 07.03.2025, the Auditor-General informed that without access to required parties’ information and evidence, a further expanded audit could not be carried out. Annexures 01 and 02 have been placed in the Library.

¶ 03 4)–7) Answers as per (3) above.

¶ 04 Additionally, regarding the bond scam, white onion fraud and coconut oil import fraud referred to in Q1: information has been requested from the relevant institutions; they have sought more time. Answers will be provided in due course.