Liquor firm fined Rs 100 m

Excise discovers major scam:

Largest ever detection:

Suraj A Bandara

The Excise Department has slapped a Rs 100 million fine on a licensed liquor manufacturer in Hanwella for swindling the state of revenue for understating stocks to the Excise Department.

This is the biggest ever excise fine imposed to date in the country, Excise Commissioner General D G M V Hapuarachchi said.

The raid on the distillery was carried out following a tip-off, he said.

Addressing the media Hapuarachchi said two Excise Officers deployed for stock verification were also taken into custody. Legal action would be taken against them.

The sleuths also seized distilling equipment and four lorries used to transport the undeclared stocks clandestinely to liquor outlets. The Excise Department were assessing the loss incurred to the Government as a result of the illegal operation to get the suspects to compensate the lost revenue to the State.

The suspects paid Rs 50 million and promised to settle the balance within two weeks. The Commissioner said if the suspects failed to pay this amount within the given period, the licence of the company would be cancelled. Strong legal action will also be taken against the suspects, Hapuarachchi said. In addition to this fine imposed by the Excise Department, the Government will take steps to recover the lost revenue due to it. Hapuarachchi said constant raids will be conducted throughout the country to check the quality of the product and if anyone is found guilty, action would be taken irrespective of their position or status.

The raid was conducted by a team headed by Deputy Excise Commissioner Generals Kapila Kumarasinghe and Chandrasiri de Silva under the direct supervision of the Excise Commissioner General.