Money earned goes to two Govt parties – Buddhika

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Buddhika Pathirana alleged yesterday (24), that a large sum of money, earned by giving liquor licences to supermarkets, is going into the funds of two political parties within the Government. 

Pathirana said, this alleged racket is being carried out by a few officials at Finance Minister and the Excise Department.

“They have misled State Minister Siyambalapitiya and divided Rs 70 million earned by giving licences to supermarkets between themselves. We have information that about 75 licences would be given to supermarkets. It is reported that Rs 35 million from this Rs 70 million is being credited to the account of powerful party in the Government and another Rs 15 million is being credited to a party that recently joined the Government. The rest is being divided among the officials,” Pathirana alleged. 

While alleging that there is a large quantity of liquor bottles with fabricated security stickers affixed on the lid in the market, Pathirana charged that there are several manufacturers and Excise Department officials behind the racket.

Pathirana claimed that the Government is deprived of intended revenue owing to the racket.

He said printing fabricated stickers is as much a crime as printing counterfeit money.

“Currently, the use of these codes is not unfamiliar to the people. The code on this sticker does not work on a basic mobile phone. Therefore, it is impossible to distinguish between the fake stickers in the market and the real ones,” he said.

He added the officers of the Excise Department are supplying these fabricated stickers to the relevant manufacturers and that a large quantity of stickers has been distributed to the market.

Pathirana further said, Siyambalapitiya admitted that poisonous artificial toddy is used in the alcohol industry.

“150,000 litres of toddy is required for the liquor industry per day. However, only 45,000 litres are coconut toddy and the rest is artificial. Even Minister Siyambalapitiya is aware of this but he cannot do anything against it as he is also being framed by the officials of Finance Ministry,” he added.