Ministry officials and a beer producer against new low-cost arrack

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been informed about a plan to sabotage the introduction of a low-priced arrack.

The licensed liquor producers’ association has written to him, alleging that a certain beer producer, ministry officials and former excise officers were behind this attempt.

A plan is underway to introduce an arrack priced below Rs. 2,000 per bottle.

President of the association D.G.A. Udugama also noted in the letter the new excise commissioner general should be given time to eliminate corruption and irregularities as per the president’s vision.

He noted with concern the criticism being levelled against the excise chief by ADIC and the national sangha conference which had kept their silence when liquor licenses were issued illegally and laws were being formulated to legalize cannabis cultivation.

Udugama also said a certain beer producer was going against the excise act and using rice and sugar on a large scale to produce beer.

He also suggested investigating the quality of beer presently available in the market.