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MP Pathirana exposes yahapalana ministers and Excise Dept. crooks

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/30

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana yesterday said that two Cabinet ministers of the yahapalana government and a group ofMinistry of Finance and Excise Department officials were behind a deal to hand over a tender to an Indian company to introduce a sticker to be affixed to liquor and beer bottles.

Addressing the media after lodging a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in Colombo, the MP said: “The tender was awarded to Madras Security Printers company of India without following due procedure. The officials concerned lined their pockets. This deal, started during the yahapalana government has been finalised under the incumbent government. We hope that the matter would be investigated by the government, and the wrongdoers including the politicians and the officials will be exposed.”

MP Pathirana said that in addition to the complaint to the CIABPOC, he had handed over documentary proof and a copy of the complaint to the Committee on Public Accounts in

Parliament for a separate probe besides submitting a copy of the same to the Auditor General’s Department.

MP Pathirana said that following his expose of the deal in introducing fool-proof stickers to liquor and beer bottles, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had contacted him over the phone and made inquiries about it. “I met the President this morning and explained everything about this fraud that would pump people’s money to an Indian company. I pointed out to him all the irregularities of the tender process and how the officials turned down the bid of the government printer with a lower quotation to help the Indian company with a higher bid. If the sticker is printed here by the government press, the money will remain in our country. The Indian company MSP is a blacklisted venture. The President promised that he would instruct officials to look into this.”

Pathirana said that the sticker with a code is accessorised with a software to check its authenticity. “The tender for the creation of that software too has been handed over to an Indian company without following proper tender procedures. That has been done during the yahapalana government’s time.

MP Pathirana said that around 40 million bottles of hard liquor and beer were produced annually in Sri Lanka. It was to prevent counterfeits being produced the label had been introduced.

“Two ministers of the former government and some officials got together and made deals with MSP to pocket commissions from the project. The day after I exposed this in parliament, the Excise Department issued a statement, which only proved it was intent on protecting the culprits. The Excise Department officials are also disturbed by my exposures of their links to artificial toddy makers. My initial intention was to highlight the need to devise a mechanism to prevent the use of artificial toddy to produce vinegar because people including children who do not consume that rotgut toddy are exposed to carcinogenic elements via vinegar. A few days ago, the STF commandos of Gonahena camp raided an artificial toddy distillery in Kochchikade and recovered vast quantities of the contraband along with chemicals used to prepare artificial toddy. This country’s daily production of toddy is around 160,000 litres. The truth is that the capacity to produce coconut toddy even after tapping all licensed trees is around 45,000 litres a day. Producing illicit toddy is an offence under Excise Ordinance and Food and Drugs Act. I call for urgent attention to amend the Excise Act immediately to prevent the loss of tax revenue.”

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Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ leaves island

Published

42 mins ago

2026/01/26

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ concluded a logistics replenishment visit to Sri Lanka and departed the Port of Colombo on 24 Jan 26.

In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.

Latest News

Gold tops $5,000 for first time ever, adding to historic rally

Published

10 hours ago

2026/01/26

Priyan

[pic BBC]

The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025.

It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty.

US President Donald Trump’s trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China.

Gold and other precious metals are seen as a so-called safe-haven assets that investors buy in times of uncertainty.

Demand for gold has also been driven by a range of other factors including higher-than-usual inflation, the weak US dollar, buying by central banks around the world and as the US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again this year.

Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Washington seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have also helped push up the price of gold.

On Friday, silver topped $100 an ounce for the first time, building on its almost 150% rise last year.

[BBC]

News

Auditor General issue acid test for newly constituted CC, says former COPE Chief

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/26

Sahan Weerasooriya

Charitha

SJB Working Committee member and ex-SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath says that all eyes are on the newly constituted Constitutional Council (CC) as to how it will handle the dispute between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the previous CC, over the appointment of Auditor General (AG).

The former parliamentarian said so in response to The Island query yesterday (25). In terms of the Constitution, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa last week agreed on the appointment of former civil servant Austin Fernando, Professor Wasantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Ariyaratne as non-MP members of the CC.

They replaced former Ministry Secretary Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, former Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Dr. Dilkushi Anula Wijesundere and Dr. Dinesha Samararatne of the University of Colombo. Pointing out that they rejected the President’s nominees for the AG’s post on several occasions, Herath emphasised the pivotal importance of the appointment of a person with impeccable credentials.

The other CC members are the Prime Minister, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne (Chairman), the Opposition Leader, the President’s nominee Bimal Rathnayake and five persons appointed by the President, upon being nominated as follows: one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the MPs representing the Government (Aboobucker Athambawa, MP), one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the Members of Parliament of the political party, or independent group, to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs (Ajith P. Perera, MP), and one MP nominated by agreement of the Members of Parliament other than those representing the Government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs, and appointed by the President ( Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP.)

The present CC was established on October 31, 2022 in terms of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The Attorney General heads the National Audit Office (NAO). One-time COPE Chief said that it would be the responsibility of the government to ensure the integrity of the NAO.

Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.

Herath said that the government was in a bind over the Auditor General’s appointment and the disgraceful campaign launched against Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Jr, PC.

The ex-lawmaker said that JVP/NPP loyalists masquerading as journalists and civil activists had launched the protest against the Attorney General. Herath said that the decision to send Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, on compulsory leave, too, was a matter of serious concern.

Herath said: “This is the same government that campaigned strongly on non-interference, institutional independence, and respect for the rule of law—principles they used to criticise every previous administration. Now, they appear to be doing exactly what they once opposed, only more openly. If this pattern continues, these undemocratic actions will eventually lead to their own downfall.”

BASL in late December, 2025 urged President Dissanayake and others, including the Opposition Leader, to consult civil society and professional bodies, including them, before the appointment of civil society representatives.

Herath said that the newly constituted CC would face its first acid test when it addressed the Auditor General issue.

by Shamindra Ferdinando