Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Government is actively working to recover approximately Rs. 7 billion in unpaid taxes from liquor companies. He stated that the Government would consider confiscating properties if such authority was granted under the law. During yesterday’s (10) Cabinet press briefing, Minister Dr. Jayatissa responded to a statement issued by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office.
The statement clarified that no liquor licences had been issued as favours, bypassing proper procedures.
Addressing this, Dr. Jayatissa criticised Wickremesinghe, saying, “The former President once remarked that issuing 250 to 300 liquor licences annually could strengthen the liquor industry through the resulting tax revenue. However, such remarks, especially from someone who relies on public funds for a pension, are inappropriate and deeply sarcastic.”
The Minister further alleged that Wickremesinghe failed to recover taxes from liquor licence holders. Citing an example, he claimed that since 2022, three companies owned by Arjun Aloysius have accumulated unpaid taxes and surcharges. Dr. Jayatissa argued that decisions to issue liquor licences should have been accompanied by steps to ensure the collection of pending taxes. He added, “If Wickremesinghe had focused on building paddy warehouses during his tenure rather than granting liquor licences, the current issues could have been avoided.”
When questioned about past incidents involving the abduction and killing of journalists, Minister Dr. Jayatissa assured that investigations are ongoing and emphasised the Government’s commitment to journalists’ safety. He acknowledged that individuals conducting investigations had to leave the country and that some critical documents have gone missing. However, he affirmed that the current administration is dedicated to ensuring justice and preventing such incidents from recurring.
On rumours of a looming medicine shortage, the Minister admitted that delays in procurement last year led to potential shortages. However, recent Cabinet approval of Rs. 50 billion for the procurement of approximately 350 essential drugs has addressed this concern. He dismissed reports of a widespread shortage of 500 to 600 drugs as baseless and clarified that claims of expired drugs were retracted by the individuals who initially made them.
Responding to inquiries about vehicle imports, the Minister stated that decisions were made considering the country’s economic situation and foreign reserve targets. He stressed the importance of balanced policies to prevent public misinformation.
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