SJB, SLPP MPs broker liquor licences for cronies

23 April 2024 06:09 am - 39 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, April 23 (Daily Mirror) - Some MPs from both Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have reportedly brokered liquor licences from the government for their cronies for hefty commissions involved, Daily Mirror learns.

The matter came to light after the religious leaders of some districts like Kandy inquired about the purported plans to set up liquor shops and those who helped securing licenses.

In one instance, the prospective businessmen have cited the names of a few SJB MPs who helped them in getting licences. Incensed by the move, the matter has been brought to the notice of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa who has reportedly promised to look into it.

Also, the matter is likely to be raised at the parliamentary group meeting this evening.

It is common knowledge that licences for opening liquor shops are issued under political patronage. Also, politicians from different hues own such shops directly or through their proxies.

Meanwhile, the SJB parliamentary group is likely to be tense since party’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara is slated to question the MPs who received financial allocations from the government to carry out development work in their respective electorates without approval from the party leadership.

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Comments - 39

Nimal Tuesday, 23 April 2024 06:43 AM

We now see the true colours of the SJB; same old wine that we have been served for the last seven decades in new bottles. One can well imagine how they will manage the affairs of the nation if they are elected to power. The leader of the SJB proudly announces that he will "look into it". The stock answer of many a politician. Was he not aware of this all this time?

Sunil Tuesday, 23 April 2024 06:55 AM

Never vote for these parties. When they come to power, theft will be in big scale. Politicians are united in corruption?

Hiran Tuesday, 23 April 2024 05:21 PM

Don't have it as an excuse to vote for NPP. Their history speaks volumes about themselves. Also, name a single country in the world who had developed using their doctrine.

We pity the party leaders wo are being ignored Tuesday, 23 April 2024 07:09 AM

It seems that Ali Baba and 40 thieves have started bickering among themselves. This is definitely not about serving the country or the citizens and not about the cost of living or shortage of medicine, that are pressing issue at present. So, this is only about sharing the loot. So much of love for the nation and Lankans who voted for the angels!

Fhfhhhhgg Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:02 AM

So people, now you better understand that the UNP, SJB, and the SLPP are to gether, for god sake do not vote for either party, give a chance to NPP, please, do not regret for another 5 years.

Tram Tuesday, 23 April 2024 11:16 AM

All the parties have their fair share of good, the bad

Jayantha Tuesday, 23 April 2024 06:34 PM

Lol. Npp if wins will be more corrupt than other parties. Most of them are not doing a job or business. According to them friends give them clothes,food and other essentials. So these friends will need massive favours if the party wins. Npp main allience is jvp. Jvp has bad recent history. Take wimal and nandana as example.

Punchi Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:04 AM

Look here, how else are these politicians going to get free liquor to build Dutch courage for their sycophants and goondas to congregate confront and trash their opponents and adversaries in keeping with violence as a tool used in elections since independence. I recall as a boy standing beside my father when he was talking to a tenant cultivator about some dues and they constant reply was that he participated in trashing his political masters opponents in at that time a recently occurred incident.

CID Need To Investigate Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:09 AM

CID should start a detailed investigating into this article. Bring the culprits to trial once enough evidence is gathered. This is hampering genuine businessmen to have a stake in this lucrative venture and also encouraging price fixing.

Be Fair Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:30 AM

They are all Wolves in Sheep clothing. Not bothered about serving the people, but to serve oneself

Jude Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:38 AM

SJB and SLPP members on last legs!!!

Jude Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:39 AM

SJB and SLPP members could be bought over for money, there's no secret!!

Sokrates Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:40 AM

Either Ranil is now completely senile or he is openly supporting the criminal activities of the corrupt MPs and ministers who, knowing that they will lose their positions in the short term, quickly carry out their dirty business while they still have political influence. All under the eyes of an extremely questionable and dubious president who has achieved nothing else. The so-called economic recovery is just manipulation by the central bank and eyewash. A loser who use lies and fraud to win an election campaign for an office for which he is completely unsuitable. Ranil go home.

Joshua Tuesday, 23 April 2024 08:58 AM

These morons forever greedy fir money. What us the Inland revenue doing??? Has rhe commissioner general have a backbone to tax these commission? I do not think so. They come behind people paying taxes only doing unreasonable audits. Have they collected a cent from rajapakshes, Keheliya etc

Steve Tuesday, 23 April 2024 09:06 AM

225 need to be kicked out for ever. Never to see their faces again.

Don Tuesday, 23 April 2024 10:49 AM

Give six months, and the next 225 will be worse than the present lot. Just drawing people from a corrupt society.

John Fernando Tuesday, 23 April 2024 09:17 AM

Sajith has to clear this accusations before any debate taking place. If anyone is involved please clear the party from them. If not people will do the needful to eliminate them.

Tom Tuesday, 23 April 2024 09:30 AM

Typical way of our parties handling issues. Getting funds for development

The good, the bad Tuesday, 23 April 2024 09:42 AM

There is not much difference between SJB, SLPP or JVP as they all come from same society. And, our entire society is corrupted to the core, from top to bottom. Most of our educated, uneducated, rich, poor

Surain Tuesday, 23 April 2024 09:59 AM

SJB should investigate this immediately

Voter Tuesday, 23 April 2024 10:14 AM

Shocking to hear that not one UNP MP does not have any liquor stores or used his/her influence to obtain licences.This has to be investigated as this is an unusual behaviour.

Ranjith Tuesday, 23 April 2024 10:49 AM

How about UNP cronies DAY LIGHT BANK ROBBERY and many more corrupt politicians still working very closely with the President we have to talk about robberies happened in Sathosa ,the famous VAT fruad so on and so forth. If President is elected again corruption will continue in large scale stop all these system change is .must under a reliable politicians.

Lasantha Jayasinghe Tuesday, 23 April 2024 11:10 AM

It is very clear that there is no difference between SLPP, SJB and UNP. The same attitudes and values - but different faces.

Onlooker Tuesday, 23 April 2024 11:39 AM

So MPs have REPORTEDLY brokered liquor licences from the government. Are you sure or hearsay to tarnish SJB.

Dr Saman Tuesday, 23 April 2024 11:53 AM

Voting for SJB is effectively voting for the SLPP and UNP combo. They will get together after the elctions

Jeronomo sal Tuesday, 23 April 2024 12:09 PM

Most devolop and semi devolop countries have a system to stop thives crookes and corrupted officials politicians from robbing the countries wealth mismanagement and manipulation on finances No point pointing the finger then it goes under the carpet sri lanka need special indipendent commission to stop this culprits rooting the countries wealth economy finances etc.etc countries in debt politicians are still screwing for more greedy never satisfying lot need to be delt very seriously with proper macanisam and to put a stop scams bribery corruption mismanagement Theft have to be stopped if country need to prosper....its impossible with majority what we have right now they got to go....spend money get a top indipendent commission formed to get this fellows out......magority have Rained this country

Ranjith Tuesday, 23 April 2024 12:13 PM

KB this what we want to change not to elect Ranil as the President again , Sajith is better than Ranil ,Sajith has a better team, Ranil is backed by thiefs of UNP and SLPP , so SJB is the better choice ,KB whom are you promoting day light robbers back into parliament.

Lion Tuesday, 23 April 2024 12:38 PM

Nothing to be surprised this is the normal practice of all the governments which have ruled this country

sam Tuesday, 23 April 2024 12:54 PM

Investigate and action

knowing about the commissions and or the 50K they may have got from the government,THE GOVERNMENT STILL HELPED THEM RECURE THESE SO CALLED LICENCES AND NOT WITH ELECTION TO COME, SPITS IT OUT!!!. Tuesday, 23 April 2024 01:14 PM

SO THE SUPPOSEDLY MEMBERS OF THESE TWO PARTIES WENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SECURED THESE LICENSES. now the question must be asked in here and answered in here!!! KNOWING ABOUT THE COMMISSION AND ADDED THESE SAME MAY HAVE EVEN GOT THE 50k, THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTS THE LICENCES TO BE GRANTED AND ISSUED AND NOT HITTING A TIN ABOUT IT!! SO, IT MEANS BRINGING IT UP WITH AN ELECTION COMING UP THEY SPIT IT OUT TO PROVE A POINT. IF SO SMART, BUT THIS IS NO WAY OF GETTING VOTES FROM THE PEOPLE. WHY IN GOD'S NAME DIDN'T THE PRESIDENT RANIL APPLY THE SAME CUNNING METHODS AND GET AT ALL THOSE WHO BROUGHT THIS COUNTRY TO ITS KNEES, INTO A DEATH TRAP AND THE MASSES SUFFERING LIKE NO OTHER TIME IN OUR HISTORY?

Citizen Tuesday, 23 April 2024 02:07 PM

Sajith even can't manage his party members, how he is going to manage the country. He has no control of his party even. Another Failed leader.

P Kunchithapathan Tuesday, 23 April 2024 02:18 PM

This is a realm where people deliberately seek a lasting change. And people are sick of liquor licenses, tenders, commissions, and employment opportunities for unqualified individuals are commodities exchanged under the table for significant sums. The UNP, SLFP, and SLPP are the primary perpetrators of such practices. The current president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is also proficient in these wrongful activities. His key supporters are notorious for engaging in mega crimes and corruption, which have precipitated an economic crisis in the country. Under the guise of securing an IMF loan, he is involved in various underhand dealings amounting to billions of rupees. JVP or NPP are scoring on those points and they appear to be unstoppable.

Buddhist Tuesday, 23 April 2024 03:54 PM

Requesting a licence is not the issue, as the requestor does not have the power to approve it. It is the fault of the Ranil-Rajapaksa government, as it has the power to approve or reject. Miss the wrong end of the rope!

Lara Tuesday, 23 April 2024 05:13 PM

People have seen the true colours of JVP also long time ago.

ANNECUNT Tuesday, 23 April 2024 05:19 PM

WE MUST KNOW THE NAMES OF THESE MINISTERS WE DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN i understand NAMAL RAJAPAKSA gives recomendation letters to his proxies with parliment letterheads

dinesh Tuesday, 23 April 2024 05:49 PM

is anyone surprised ?? about SLPP or SJB... if you are, you are still a donkey who eats rice...

Dasa P Tuesday, 23 April 2024 06:52 PM

What we are going to lose anyway? I would try NPP this time.

Navi Tuesday, 23 April 2024 07:20 PM

Shameless SJB, SLPP politicians. They have forgotten this soon the example set by the Late Palitha Thevapperuma.

Volker Metzger Tuesday, 23 April 2024 11:37 PM

A normal (average) person can only feel sick when they read the daily news and especially the political news from Sri Lanka!!! Corruption and similar illegal dealings are obviously the cancer in this country that is eating its way through the parties!!! Hence my repeated plea for the only politician who I believe is capable and who I trust to clean up this mess, Sarath Fonseka!!! Unfortunately he is not yet running for election!!! Only he, with an appropriate team, would be able to permanently eliminate the rampant evils, criminal political actions and other violations of the law and offer the country a better future! The presidential candidates standing for election are not capable of doing this!!!

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SJB, SLPP MPs broker liquor licences for cronies

Comments - 39

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