Sajith alleges Excise Chief now raising funds for govt’s polls campaign

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the Excise Commissioner General had become a fund raiser for the government’s forthcoming election campaign.

Premadasa said that he had information that the government was planning to issue 200 new licences for liquor outlets and each of them would help rake in Rs. 20 million. “We have information that 15 out of these 200 licenses have already been issued. The new liquor shops get FL 4 category licenses. Each recipient is told to give Rs 20 million for getting the license. It is said that M.J. Gunasiri has been reappointed to the post of Commissioner General Excise for this purpose. Is it the government’s way of raising funds for the election,” Premadasa queried.

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the Opposition Leader should have raised this question under the provisions of Standing Orders 27 (2). “If he raises the same in that manner, our Ministry will come up with an answer. This is not the proper procedure to raise a question,” Minister Semasinghe said.

Premadasa said that in addition to the 200 new liquor shop licenses, six new licenses have been issued to liquor producers. “Our MPs usually raise questions of national importance, and the ministers also answer them. Why is the government trying to get away without answering,” Premadasa demanded to know.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe said that the State Finance Minister had stated that he was ready to respond if the Opposition leader raises the same question under the provisions of Standing Order No 27(2) as such there was no point in expecting an answer from the latter.

Minister Semasinghe said: We have never made appointments outside the law. We keep appointing heads of departments. The Cabinet and the Subject ministers have powers to make appointments of heads of departments.