Anuradhapura Excise Dept gets tough on Detection Week

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr.

The Anuradhapura Excise Department has embarked on an intensive detection programme to nab illicit liquor sellers, brewers and unlicensed sellers of arrack in the Anuradhapura district during the Detection Week which commenced on May 15.

Eleven raids were conducted at Kekirawa, Maradankadawala and Thambuttegama areas on May 15 and 11 persons were charged with possessing kasippu, misbehaving at public places under the influence of liquor and illegal sale of arrack. The cases are pending.

Anuradhapura Excise Department OIC Inspector M. B. Wijeratne told the Daily News two traders selling cigarettes to persons under 21 years in Tirappane were fined Rs. 2,500 each by the Anuradhapura Magistrate.

Wijeratne said a fish vendor at a market site in Anuradhapura arrested with 150 bottles of arrack was fined Rs. 100,000 after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Eleven persons detected for possessing arrack exceeding the allowed quantity of 10 bottles of spirits produced before Anuradhapura Magistrate Ruchira Weliwatta were fined a total of Rs. 251,000.

The Magistrate imposed fines amounting to Rs. 75,000 in five cases of illegal sale of arrack in Anuradhapura and suburbs.