Sri Lanka, April 24 -- W. M. Mendis & Co. directors must settle their outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) payments as previously ordered, according to the Colombo Magistrate's Court.

Additional Magistrate Oshada Migara Maharachchi issued this directive to the board of directors, rejecting a request from the company for relief regarding the payment schedule.

The order came during a case filed by the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue to recover Rs. 996 million in unpaid taxes for the 2016-2017 period.

Defendant Arjun Aloysius, a director of the company, appeared in court for the proceedings.

Counsel representing the defendant informed the court that the Excise Department suspended the company's liquor production licenses. Furthermore...