-Special Revelation by LeN
(Lanka-e-News -05.Oct.2024, 5.30 pm) Liquor Commissioner General J.M. Gunasiri, who had boasted in a media briefing that overdue liquor taxes would be collected by November 3rd, has now been exposed for allegedly assisting a racket involving W.A. Mendis Company.
It has come to light that, under the instructions of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the company was granted permission to produce and sell alcohol worth approximately Rs. 4 billion just before the presidential election ended. Notably, a large amount of “Kale” bottles were produced during this period.
With full state backing, W.A. Mendis Company has been able to continue its production for months, filling wine stores primarily in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Despite a parliamentary decision by the Committee on Public Finance to revoke the licenses of alcohol production companies that failed to pay overdue liquor taxes, the Excise Department failed to do so, allegedly due to bribes offered by Mendis Company officials. The company owes nearly Rs. 4 billion in unpaid liquor taxes. The most recent deficit stands at Rs. 1.5 billion, with Mendis Company leading the pack of tax defaulters.
Commissioner General Gunasiri is now reviving his “Liquor Baba” drama. While lying to the media, he has allowed Mendis Company to continue producing alcohol despite its outstanding taxes.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, is reportedly planning to initiate an investigation into the approval of Mendis Company’s production by the Excise Department.
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by (2024-10-05 12:00:29)
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