Sri Lanka, July 21 -- The Attorney General's Department yesterday informed the Supreme Court that it would institute legal action in the District Court to recover more than Rs. 6.2 billion in outstanding taxes allegedly owed by liquor manufacturing companies.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, appearing for the Attorney General, made this revelation when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by 17 social activists was taken up before a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere.

The petition challenges the failure of the authorities to recover tax arrears amounting to over Rs. 6 billion from several liquor manufacturers and seeks judicial intervention to compel the recovery of th...