Lorry carrying substandard toddy seized at roadblock

Indika Polkotuwa

Four lorries transporting nearly 50,000 bottles of substandard toddy for distribution among liquor sales outlets in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya were detected by Kandy Excise Office officers at a roadblock at Galagedera following a tip-off on Tuesday.

Officers arrested eight suspects manning the vehicles and seized the four lorry loads of liquor. Excise Inspector Gamini Pushpakumara said the toddy had been produced in a distillery in Marawila.

The bottles of toddy did not bear a quality certification label or dates of manufacture and expiry. Investigations revealed that the liquor was due to be distributed among 25 liquor outlets in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.

The business is run by a millionaire businessman in the Wayamba Province.

Investigations are continuing.