Police raid illicit liquor distillery in Ratmalana

By H. M. Dharmapala  and Kusal Chamath   

A suspect engaged in brewing illicit liquor was arrested at Yogashrama Mawatha in Thelawala in Ratmalana by the Mount Lavinia Division Anti Vice Squad during a raid.

 Police also seized a stock of 60 litres of Goda, 40 litres of spirit and distilling equipment.

Investigations revealed that the 36-year-old suspect had been carrying on with the racket since long and had been distributing illicit liquor in several areas including Ratmalana, Thelawala, Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa, Panadura and Piliyandala.   

The distilling equipment seized included seven large barrels, gas cookers, gas cylinders, plastic cans and copper pipes.   

OIC Anti-Vice Squad SI Neil Priyantha, Sergeant (33704) Gurusinghe, PCs (75654) Laxman, (87654) Lakmal, (93746) Balakumar and (89719) Shantha are conducting further investigations on the instructions of HQI Mount Lavinia Police Dileepa C. Perera, SP Samantha Wedage and SSP Rohan Premaratne.