Fonterra Bands Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. v. The Commissioner General Department of Inland Revenue – CA WRIT 663/2010-2014

The case between FONTERRA Brands Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and the Commissioner General and Assessors of the Department of Inland Revenue addressed whether the assessment of taxable income for the year of assessment 2004/2005 was issued within the time limits prescribed by the Inland Revenue Act No. 38 of 2000, specifically concerning the requirement of notice under Section 134(1) and statement of reasons under Section 134(3). It was concluded that the assessment was made in compliance with statutory procedure or, alternatively, that the petitioner had not acted within the prescribed periods to challenge it. The decision reaffirmed that alternate statutory remedies available under the Inland Revenue Act preclude recourse to writ jurisdiction unless clear excess or want of jurisdiction is shown. This