December 10, Colombo (LNW): Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office has refuted allegations that liquor licenses were issued unlawfully during his tenure, asserting that all licenses complied with the Excise Department’s rules and regulations.
In a statement, the office highlighted that the issuance of new liquor licenses generated over Rs. 3.1 billion in revenue for the government during the first nine months of this year. It further clarified that the legitimacy of the process was verified through recommendations provided in a letter from the Election Commission to the Commissioner General of Excise on August 19, 2024.
The statement also emphasized that the current Cabinet of Ministers retains the authority to renew or revoke these licenses, which it described as formal and revenue-generating.
This response comes after allegations made in Parliament by Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who accused Wickremesinghe of issuing 361 liquor licenses, including 172 wine store permits, as political bribes to secure MP support. Rathnayake claimed these actions aimed to influence the political landscape following the 2024 Presidential Election announcement.
On November 20, a Fundamental Rights petition was filed with the Supreme Court, alleging that the issuance of liquor licenses violated the Excise Act and undermined fundamental rights. The petitioners argued that the licenses were granted arbitrarily and with political motives, circumventing established legal provisions.
The controversy over these liquor licenses continues to generate debate in political and legal spheres, with further developments anticipated.
