SJB: Corruption prevents Excise Dept. officials from meeting revenue targets

By Saman Indrajith

The SJB yesterday accused the Excise Department officials of taking bribes from liquor producers who used counterfeit revenue stickers on bottles of liquor.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, SJB Colombo District MP Dr Harsha de Silva said corruption had taken its toll on state revenue.

“Raids are conducted only when the liquor producers fail to pay bribes. We have information that recent raids had been conducted by the Excise officers in the North and East because they didn’t receive the bribes,” Dr de Silva said.

“Their objective is to intimidate the liquor producers into giving bribes. We challenge the Excise Department officials to have these liquor producers taken to courts if possible. We know that there is a move underway to take the money and not to produce the wrongdoers in the court.”

SJB MP Eran Wickremeratne also addressed the press.