December 05, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has announced plans to launch an investigation into whether any members of the previous Parliament, or individuals closely connected to them, received liquor licences as part of political bribery schemes under the former regime.
A government spokesperson confirmed this move yesterday, following concerns raised by opposition figures.
Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa spoke to the media in Parliament, stating that the government would immediately commence an inquiry into the matter.
He clarified that while the liquor licences in question were not directly issued in the names of any MPs, it remains possible that these licences were obtained through proxies or for the benefit of their close associates.
“While none of the licences appear to be issued in the personal names of any MPs, it is highly likely that these individuals may have used others’ names or secured licences for their allies,” Dr. Jayatissa explained. “We are committed to investigating the situation fully to clarify all these concerns.”
The issue surfaced after Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, revealed in Parliament that 361 liquor licences had been issued since January 1, 2024.
According to Ratnayake, these licences were distributed across various provinces, with the highest number being allocated to the Western Province, which received 110 licences.
Other provinces received varying numbers, including 48 for the Southern Province, 45 for the Central Province, and 30 each for the North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva Provinces.
A breakdown of the licences revealed that a significant portion, around 172, were issued for wine stores under the FL 4 category.
These licences were distributed across multiple districts, with notable concentrations in Colombo, Gampaha, and other key urban areas.
In addition to these, licences were also issued to Sathosa outlets and some to the Chairman of Sathosa, as well as to several companies and individuals.
Minister Ratnayake has raised serious concerns about the motivations behind these licences, suggesting that they were part of a larger scheme of political bribery. His allegations are based on a comment made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which implied that such actions were politically motivated.
Ratnayake stressed that the distribution of these licences appeared to be an attempt to secure political favours in exchange for access to lucrative liquor trade privileges.
Should any MPs or officials be found to have engaged in corrupt practices, further legal action will be considered.
