News
COPA flays Excise Dept. for leniency towards errant liquor companies
By Saman Indrajith
A probe conducted by the Parliament Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has revealed that the Excise Department released three liquor producing companies found guilty of using counterfeit stickers on their bottles of liquor after imposing spot fines on them.
The COPA investigation also found that the three companies had not paid excise duties amounting to Rs 6.6 billion.
COPA Chairman State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna asked Excise officers who were present at the inquiry held in the Parliamentary complex what action the latter had taken to recover the duties. The companies had been given time until 30 Oct, 2023 to settle their dues.
Asked whether the law provided for the cancellation of the licences of such errant companies, the Excise officers responded that there were provisions for that purpose but they relied on other provisions in the same Excise Act to impose fines rather than cancelling the licences.
Among those present were the COPA members MPs Chamara Sampath, Suresh Raghawan, Jayantha Ketagoda and Weerasumana Weerasinghe, sources said.
A group of 41 Secondary school students from Aitchison College, Lahore, Pakistan, paid an orientation visit yesterday (29) to the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo. The students are visiting Sri Lanka to participate in the Under-12 Football and Hockey matches being held in Colombo from 23 to 30 December.
The text of the press release issued by PHC: “During the visit, the students had the opportunity to meet and interact with Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Major General (Retd.) Faheem Ul Aziz, along with senior officers of the Mission. The High Commissioner warmly welcomed the students and appreciated their role as young Ambassadors of Pakistan representing it through sports. He also congratulated the students on winning all matches.
The students were given a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations, highlighting the longstanding friendship, shared values, and growing cooperation between the two countries. An interactive session followed, during which the students engaged in a candid exchange with the High Commissioner on diplomacy, people-to-people ties, and the importance of sports in fostering mutual understanding.
The visit served as a meaningful platform to inspire the young generation and further strengthen people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, reinforcing the bonds of friendship between the two nations.”
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) may take up the NHSL (National Hospital of Sri Lanka) issue at its executive committee meeting tomorrow (31), GMOA spokesman Dr. Chammil Wijesinghe has said.
Dr. Wijesinghe said so when The Island asked him whether the GMOA issued a statement or commented on the interdiction of Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director at the NHSL. He said that a decision would be taken at the executive committee meeting.
The Railways Department yesterday (29) announced the restoration of services on the Puttalam line. The Department said that train services between Colombo Fort and Chilaw that had been disrupted, following damages caused by Cyclone Ditwah, had resumed. Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka on 27 Nov.
The section of the railway track, near the Kadupitiya Oya Bridge, located between Kudawewa and Madampe railway stations, was washed away by floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
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