Fake security stickers on liquor bottles Perpetrators should be punished under criminal law – Opposition Leader

• Rs. 52Mn fined for those caught with fake security stickers, State Finance Minister informs House 

By Ajith Siriwardana, Yohan Perera & Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that perpetrators who were responsible for the preparation of fake security stickers to be pasted on liquor bottles should be punished under the criminal law for making such fraudulent documents.

He said by making fake security stickers the perpetrators had not only violated the law for creating fraudulent documents but they had also evaded tax revenue to the government in billions of rupees.   

The Opposition Leader making a statement at the House yesterday said it is highly suspicious that the recently seized large amount of locally manufactured liquor bottles are being kept at the head office of the Excise Department as certain corrupt Excise officials could enter the contraband to the market by pasting genuine security stickers.   
In response to this allegation, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said in the Parliament yesterday that action has already been taken to impose fines to the perpetrators of the fake security sticker scam.   

A fine of Rs.52 million has been imposed on those who were caught with bottles of liquor with fake security stickers, the State Minister of Finance said.   

He told Parliament that steps would also be taken to cancel their permits if the fines were not paid by 12 noon yesterday.   

The Minister said nearly 100, 000 bottles of liquor with fake safety stickers, including 43, 776 quarter bottles (180ml) have been seized during recent countrywide raids.