June 09, Colombo (LNW): Kushani Nanayakkara, a prominent entrepreneur and the spouse of former State Minister Dunesh Gankanda, has been apprehended by officers of the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in connection with a major tax evasion inquiry.
Her arrest follows the issuance of an open warrant by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after she failed to appear in court on multiple occasions relating to the case.
Nanayakkara, who holds directorial positions in several companies, including Green Lanka Travels, Green Seed Lanka, and Green Sri Lanka Shipping, is accused of wilfully avoiding payment of income taxes amounting to over Rs. 700 million.
The case, initiated by the Inland Revenue Department, alleges that she failed to declare substantial earnings over a number of financial years, despite receiving repeated reminders and official notices from tax authorities.
According to legal sources, the Inland Revenue Department took steps to initiate formal legal proceedings after attempts to secure voluntary compliance were unsuccessful.
The court had initially issued three separate summons for Nanayakkara to appear before a magistrate, all of which went unanswered. This led to the issuance of an open warrant and a special judicial directive to the Acting Inspector General of Police, calling for her immediate apprehension.
Following this order, a targeted operation was carried out by the CCIB under the oversight of Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara. Nanayakkara was located and taken into custody in the Narahenpita area on Saturday.
She is expected to be brought before court to face the allegations levelled against her, with further legal proceedings likely to follow.
