Connect with us

News

Excise Commissioner General hits back at their accusers

Published

on

Excise Commissioner General M.G. Gunasiri addressing the media yesterday

By Chaminda Silva

Excise Commissioner General M.G. Gunasiri has said that liquor shop and bar owners have ganged up to prevent the Excise Department from issuing liquor licences to Supermarkets because it will be a threat to their monopoly.

Addressing the media at the Excise Headquarters in Rajagiriya yesterday, Gunasiri said that liquor shop owners had spread falsehood via social media against giving liquor selling licences to supermarkets.

Commissioner General Gunasiri said that there were around 1,200 liquor shops in the country and they had received many complaints of illegal activities in them. There were many complaints of liquor outlet owners engaging in illegal practices such as adulteration and selling illicit liquor. Compared to them the supermarkets have sold liquor without complaints of such illegal activities. The Excise Department had recently introduced a fool-proof sticker on liquor bottles. Following the introduction of the sticker the revenue of the department had increased by 17 percent. This sticker had hindered the illegal operations of liquor shop owners who sold counterfeits. “The liquor shop owners now have teamed up against the Excise Department. They have made certain allegations pertaining to the issuance of liquor selling licenses to the super markets. We are taking legal actions against those who made wild allegations. Further to that in issuance of liquor licences to the supermarkets we have maintained a policy of transparency so that information pertaining to anyone is available at request,” Commissioner General Gunasiri said.

The department had recorded an increase of revenue from Rs. 121 billion rupees in 2020 to Rs 140 billion in 2021, the Commissioner General said, adding that the recorded increase of revenue was due to the fool-proof sticker.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

on

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

on

By

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

Continue Reading

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

on

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.

Continue Reading

Trending