Alleged move to award liquor licenses to supermarket chains in exchange for Rs 70 million per applicant : Buddhika

11 October 2021 08:59 am Views - 166

• A portion of the funds received from liquor license’s are to be given to MP’s of the area
• Another portion of the funds is to be used to bribe those who oppose liquor including members of the Buddhist clergy 

By Yohan Perera 

There is a move to launch a crash programme to award liquor licenses to supermarket chains in exchange for Rs 70 million from each applicant, SJB MP ‘s Buddhika Pathirana alleged yesterday. 

Mr. Pathirana who made this disclosure during a press conference of SJB affiliated Dushana Virodi Balawegaya said the move is to award liquor licenses to  supermarket chain branches of each polling division.

"A portion of the funds received from liquor licenses is to be given to either MP of the area, or the for the former provincial council member or even the organizer of the ruling party in each constituency. Another portion of the funds is to be used to bribe those who oppose liquor including members of the Buddhist clergy" the MP alleged. 
MP Pathirana said he will launch an Anagarika Dharmapala-type campaign against this move.

'He also alleged of a move to privatize Sathosa by selling inferior quality cosmetics through the outlets. " The objective of this move is to make Sathosa fall financially and thereby creating a reason to bring in private sector participation," he said.