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Distiller linked to former minister fined Rs. 21 million
A private distillery owner linked to a former minister was on Thursday fined more than Rs. 21 million for suddenly moving more than 68,000 bottles of liquour to Dematagoda in violation of operating licence regulations, senior Excise officials disclosed yesterday. They said the owner was widely believed to be a mere idle partner while the former minister was allegedly the proprietor of the distillery in the Kurunegala District.
Charges were filed against the private distiller after finished alcohol products were seized by police from a warehouse in Dematagoda, barely nine days after the January 8 presidential election, the officials said.They said the seized alcohol products — 68,603 bottles or 20,824 litres — were later handed over to the Excise authorities for follow-up action.
According to the officials, there were seven different brands of alcohol products with various volume strengths and quantity. They said the storage of the stock in this particular location with the intention of distribution was a violation of the Excise licence conditions. The alcohol stocks were packed inside four different trucks that were also subsequently confiscated, they said.
The stocks were moved out hurriedly to Dematagoda after the politician apparently feared reprisals following the defeat of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime on January 8, they said.The police, swooped down on the warehouse following a tip-off.The distiller is eligible to appeal against the fine but this is most unlikely and he has indicated that the fine would be paid early, the officials said.
At present there are some seven private distilleries in the country with two based in the North Western Province.