Finance Ministry orders report on licences granted to liquor stores

COLOMBO (News 1st):- The Minister of Finance has ordered the Director-General of the Excise Department to produce a report within the next two weeks regarding the illegal licensing of liquor stores. Issuing a communique, Minister Samaraweera said the order was issued, following information received that licensing has taken place without his permission. The Ministry of Finance stated that 84 liquor shops have been licensed in the years 2017 and 2018 without the permission of the Ministry. The Ministry further stated that so far it was mandatory for the Excise Department to get the approval of the Subject Minister in order to issue a license as the Department comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry. The Director-General of the Excise Department, H.A. Sumanasinghe stated that they have already begun an investigation into the allegations and that no licenses were issued without obtaining the permission of the Minister. However, he said, if the investigation reveals any discrepancies and illegal issuing of a licence, immediate action will be taken to revoke them.