Sri Lanka: Wickremesinghe Defends Legitimacy of Liquor Licenses

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has firmly denied recent allegations that liquor licenses issued during his administration were distributed illegally or as bribes. Addressing concerns surrounding the issuance of these licenses, Wickremesinghe emphasized that all licenses were issued legally, accompanied by fees, and were intended to generate government revenue.

Responding to claims that liquor licenses had been used to offer bribes, Wickremesinghe clarified that no MP or individual had received these licenses improperly. “I did not give those bar licenses for nothing. I sold them for 10-15-20 million each and collected a good amount of money for state revenue,” he said, defending the transparent financial process.

He revealed that these licenses were a means of raising revenue without relying on direct taxation, contributing between four to five billion Sri Lankan rupees to the national economy. “Why am I giving bribes to anyone? I did not give any of these for free. If anyone gave money, they gave the license,” he asserted.

Wickremesinghe further noted that while some MPs may have sent representatives to acquire bar licenses, the distribution of these licenses was strictly legal and financial. “That is why no one got to earn money personally,” he said.

According to Wickremesinghe, approximately 1,000 bars are licensed in the country, with another 300 licenses being distributed during his tenure, most of which were connected to tourist hotels. He also had plans to distribute an additional 300 licenses the following year, highlighting their role in bolstering state revenues.

Wickremesinghe emphasized that these transactions were transparent, with no secrecy involved. “If you had asked me, I would have given these lists even earlier. These bar licenses were not given secretly,” he declared.

The former President also highlighted the role of excise tax revenue, primarily sourced from liquor licenses, as one of the main contributors to the country’s income. Dismissing concerns about wrongdoing, he stated, “There is no need to hide these and pretend to be virtuous.”