Aug 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officers are to continue with their agitation campaigns until the police arrest the suspects involved in the attack on Deputy Tax Commissioner in Matara recently.

Inland Revenue General Employees Union head Ajith Galhena told ColomboPage that despite assurances given by the government, the IRD officials would not stop its agitation campaigns until the suspects are arrested.

IRD officers claim that Deputy Tax Commissioner, H.M. Denzil was attacked by people from whom he would have collected taxes for the government.

Deputy Finance Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera met with IRD officials on Friday (20) and assured that the suspects would be arrested in the next few days and for the officials to return to usual work at the Department.

Last week, President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened and called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest the suspects involved in the attack and to provide the necessary security to IRD officers engaged in tax collection.

Police Spokesperson SP Prishantha Jayakody said there are currently two teams from the Matara Police and one CID team investigating the attack on the deputy tax commissioner. He said the police have also decided to offer a cash reward of Rs. 500,000 to any one who gives proper information about the suspects.