SC orders Excise chief to submit details on liquor licenses issued ahead of 2024 Presidential poll

Colombo, June 4 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday (04) ordered the Commissioner General of Excise to provide comprehensive details to the court on liquor licenses issued over the past year, specifically including the period starting from the declaration of the 2024 Presidential election.

This order was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva, and Mahinda Samayawardena, during the hearing of two Fundamental Rights petitions that challenge the legality of issuing liquor licenses allegedly aimed at supporting the election campaign of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Court also granted leave to proceed with both petitions and fixed them for argument on November 19.

The petitioners allege that a large number of liquor licenses were issued in an “illegal, unjust and arbitrary manner,” lacking both transparency and adherence to proper procedure. They contend that these actions were politically motivated and strategically timed to benefit certain individuals aligned with the former President’s election campaign.

According to the petitioners, credible information suggests that, in the lead-up to the 2024 Presidential election, liquor licenses were granted on an ad-hoc basis without a fair or impartial review process.

President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, appearing with Rukshan Senadeera and instructed by S.W. Amila Kumara, represented one of the petitioners while President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, along with Manujaya De Silva and instructed by Manjula Balasooriya, appeared for several other petitioners.