Persons claiming to be supporters of Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva are using intimidatory tactics to force officials to grant a liquor licence for a recently opened hotel in Vakarai, Batticaloa, according to a senior government officer in the Eastern Province.
Rasanayagam Rahulanayaki, Divisional Secretary of the Assistant Government Agent (AGA), has lodged a complaint about threats to the Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, District Secretary N. Monagurusamy, the area’s Brigade Command (Army), and the police.
When the hotel initially applied for a liquor license, the Excise Commissioner asked the AGA to submit a report. The hotel is within 300 metres of a kovil, a church and a school. Following objections from religious groups, the school principal and the Grama Sevaka, the liquor licence request was rejected.
After Ms. Rahulanayaki submitted her report to the Excise Commissioner, two strangers visited her home in Chenkaladi, Batticaloa, saying they were supporters of Minister Silva. They told Ms. Rahulanayaki’s father and sister that there would be “consequences” if the AGA failed to recommend that a liquor licence be issued.
On Friday, Ms. Rahulanayaki received two telephone calls. The callers said they were working for a minister in Colombo and demanded that the AGA endorse the issue of a liquor licence. They said she would be transferred to Jaffna if she did not do as told.
Ms. Rahulanayaki told the Sunday Times that she has brought up the matter with the Chief Minister and the relevant authorities. She said the police have noted the mobile numbers from which the calls originated.
Meanwhile, on Friday an AGA staff member working with Ms. Rahulanayaki said he was stopped and threatened by two men, friends of the hotel owner, while he was on his way to the AGA’s office to hand over the office keys. |
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