• Denies allegations that plans are afoot to issue 200 new wine store licences under the FL-4 retail category 

Following certain allegations being made by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that the Government is to issue 200 new liquor store licences aimed at the upcoming elections, the Excise Department denied the allegations, claiming that all the licences have been issued under the prescribed terms and conditions.

Speaking in the Parliament last week, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader Premadasa alleged that the Government is planning to issue licences to open 200 wine stores under the FL4 category (retail licence), and that 15 of them have already been issued.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (21), Excise Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri stated that the Department has not taken a decision to issue 200 wine store licences as claimed by Premadasa, but that only 12 new licences were issued recently. He also said that the Department is issuing licences according to the new regulations that were initiated to streamline the excise sector and that none of the licences were issued aimed at the upcoming elections. 

He also noted that there are only 1,190 liquor shops established under the said FL4 licences and said that some areas have been identified with no liquor shops for 40-50 kilometres. 

“In such cases, we have to issue licences for those who request licences. But, there is a specific number of liquor shops that can be established in a province. Therefore, we would issue licences according to the laws. In addition, people complain that illegal liquor manufacturing has increased as a result of a lack of licensed liquor shops,” he said. 

Gunasiri also noted that the licences for those FL4 type liquor shops will be issued after examining whether the applicants have fulfilled the required terms and conditions. “Before issuing the licences, we review how many licences already exist in the Province and how many we can issue accordingly. Apart from that, several reports, including those of the Government Agent and the Police have to be submitted by the applicants. Accordingly, we shortlist the eligible applicants and send them to the Finance Ministry for approval,” he said. He further noted that these allegations are mostly made by the licence holders, who do not want the market to be competitive.

State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was not available for comment.