Political bribes- Govt. to probe former MPs over liquor licences

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The government is to carry out an investigation to  determine whether any of the MPs who represented the previous Parliament  or any one of their associates had received liquor licences as  political bribes during the previous regime, a government spokesman said  yesterday.  

Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa told journalists in  Parliament that an investigation would be carried out immediately but  asserted that some of the licences did not carry the names of any MP.  

“Licences have not been issued under the personal name of  any MP, but it is possible that they have used other names to obtain the  licences. Also, it may be that these MPs obtained licences for their  close associates. We will be carrying out an investigation to clear all  these matters,” Dr. Jayatissa told journalists.  

Earlier, Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake revealed in  the House that around 361 liquor licences have been issued since January  1, 2024.   

Accordingly 110 licences have been issued for the Western  Province, 48 for Southern Province, 32 for North, 22 for East, 45 for  Central Province, 14 for North Central and 30 each for North Western,  Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces.  

Some 172 licences have been issued for Wine stores under  the category FL 4. Accordingly, 22 licences have been issued for Colombo,  18 for Gampaha, eight for Kalutara, nine for Galle, five for Matara,  five for Hambantota, five for Jaffna, 16 for Kilinochchi, two for  Vavuniya, one for Batticaloa, five for Ampara, 11 for Kandy, eight for  Nuwara Eliya, four for Trincomalee, six for Matale, four for  Anuradhapura, three for Polonnaruwa, six for Puttalam, eight for  Kurunegala, nine for Badulla, seven for Monaragala, seven for Ratnapura,  two for Mannar and two for Kegalle District.   Licences have been issued to Sathosa outlets in various  parts of the country, including a few issued to its Chairman. Some licences  carry the names of companies, while licences have been issued to  individuals as well.  

Minister Ratnayake alleged all these licences have been  issued as political bribes, going by a comment once made by former  President Ranil Wickremesinghe.