Share: Colombo (News 1st); The Sugar Scam cost the state Rs. 15.9 Billion in taxes, said the Finance Ministry via a report to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday (09). The report further noted the Rs. 15.9 Billion in its entirety or a portion of it, benefited a small group of individuals. Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha De Silva, who is a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts speaking to News 1st said according to the report the reduction of taxes on sugar did not benefit the general public as a small group had control of prices in the market. “The treasury lost almost Rs. 16 Billion from the sugar tax reduction,” said the MP.