By: Isuru Parakrama
September 30, Colombo (LNW): National People’s Power (NPP) stalwart former MP Wasantha Samarasinghe has accused certain officials within the Excise Department of soliciting bribes of up to Rs. 20 million in exchange for bar permits, revealing what he claims is a web of corruption.
During a press briefing yesterday (29), Samarasinghe alleged that permits were issued selectively, favouring those who paid bribes while denying applications from individuals who refused to participate in the illicit dealings.
Samarasinghe, an Executive Council member of the NPP, further claimed that his party has gathered substantial evidence, including details of the establishments involved and audio recordings of the transactions between Excise officers and permit seekers.
He expressed concerns over the significant financial losses the state has incurred as a result of these corrupt practices, and vowed that the NPP is preparing to take legal action against the officials implicated.
This alleged corruption is not the first controversy to engulf the Excise Department. Former parliamentarian Gamini Waleboda, addressing the media over the weekend, raised concerns about Excise officers involved in another scandal.
He referred to a recent case involving counterfeit security stickers on liquor bottles, suggesting that some of the officers linked to the fraudulent scheme are attempting to flee the country to avoid prosecution.
Waleboda emphasised that both the President and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police will be informed of the situation, and he called for stringent measures to ensure that those involved are brought to justice.
The fake security sticker scandal has already raised alarm over the integrity of the excise and tax system, and the potential flight of the accused officers adds urgency to the situation.
With the NPP poised to take legal action and government authorities being alerted, further investigations into these corrupt practices are expected in the coming weeks.
The extent of the financial damage caused to the state, as well as the potential for more fraudulent activities to be uncovered, remains a pressing concern.
