Close tab on liquor outlets during Vesak

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The Excise Department will keep a close tab on liquor shops, restaurants and hotels that sell liquor during the Vesak period from today till May 5. All liquor bars will be closed during this period on a directive issued by the Excise Department.

The Excise Commissioner (Crimes) D. G. M. V. Hapuarachchi told the "Sunday Observer" that all provincial Excise Stations have been instructed to conduct periodical checks on liquor shops and hotels to ensure compliance of the directive.

Excise officers will be on stand by in Colombo to check any liquor shop, hotel or restaurant selling liquor during this period.

The public can telephone the Excise head office on 2300170 and pass on information with regard to the sale of liquor. A fine of Rs. 5 lakhs will be imposed on liquor bars or hotels violating this directive, Hapuarachchi said. Inspector Duminda Balasooriya of the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit said they have drawn up a plan to nab persons who store arrack illegally with the idea of selling them at exorbitant rates during Vesak.

During the Sinhala and Tamil New year people had sold bottles of arrack for Rs. 1,000 and above. "We are collecting information on those who store liquor illegally to make a quick profit," he said.

Meanwhile, the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit detected 420 cases of Kassippu (Unlawfully Distilled Spirits), 5000 bottles and 600 barrels containing Goda (Unlawfully Manufactured Liquor).

The detections were made in Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Matara, Galle, Dereniyagala, Kitulgala and Avissawella.

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