LNP – Wife of former State Minister arrested over Rs. 700 Mn tax evasion

Kushani Nanayakkara, a businesswoman and the wife of former State Minister Dunesh Gankanda, has been arrested by the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau (CCIB) following an open warrant issued over a longstanding income tax evasion case filed by the Inland Revenue Department.

She was taken into custody over allegations of failing to pay more than Rs. 700 million in income tax over several years, as per a case filed before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Nanayakkara is a Director of Green Lanka Travels, Green Seed Lanka and Green Sri Lanka Shipping. Authorities allege that she deliberately evaded taxes on income generated through these companies, despite repeated notices from the Inland Revenue Department.

After she failed to comply with official warnings, the Department initiated legal action. The Colombo Magistrate’s Court subsequently issued three summons and later an open warrant due to her continued absence before court.

It was reported that the Magistrate also issued a direct order to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya, instructing her immediate arrest and production before the court.

Following this directive, the CCIB, under the supervision of Director SSP Shani Abeysekara, conducted a special operation and arrested Nanayakkara in Narahenpita on Saturday.

She is to be produced before the courts.