Rs. 4m collected as fines, penalties from illicit liquor dealers

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: The Excise Department busted more than 30 outlets engaged in the illicit liquor trade and for violating the provisions in their liquor licences last week.

The Department collected Rs. 4 million as penalties and fines from owners of these outlets.

Among the outlets were several prominent hotels, including a rest house in Peradeniya where excise officers canceled the liquor licence issued to them temporarily, pending a ruling by the Commissioner General for alleged malpractices.

These establishments had also been taken to task for selling liquor during prohibited hours, maintaining illegal stocks, manipulating accounts, tax frauds and having stocks not suitable for consumption.

The Commissioner General had also temporarily canceled licences of five outlets till a proper inquiry was conducted.

Meanwhile, sleuths nabbed 10 toddy tavern dealers in Ja-ela yesterday for selling illicit liquor and violating the provisions in their liquor licences.

The offenders were fined Rs. 300,000, sources said.The Excise Department had raided illegal distilleries, liquor outlets, Karaoke clubs, super markets and toddy taverns all over the country during the last few weeks.

According to excise sources, this was a result of the aggressive approach by the department in line with President Mahinda Rajapaksa's call to eliminate the drug menace under the programme Mathata Thitha.

The raids had been conducted by officers led by Assistant Commissioner K.M.G. Bandara under the instructions of Commissioner General of Excise Parakrama Bandara Ekanayake.

Several entrepreneurs who had not paid income tax for imported cigarettes had also been netted. Compared to last year, there was a 6.6 per cent growth in revenue collection, Excise sources said.