A group of women have staged a protest blocking the main road in Mihintale against illicit liquor in the area. 

The protesting women claimed that men in the area were addicted to illicit liquor, which was ruining families. 

Claiming that this was also affecting the education of young children, the women said their hard-earned income was being used by the men to consume illicit liquor. 

“Ten men from our village have died due to illicit liquor. Five more are ill. Why is the Mihintale Police not taking action? They are bribing the Police, who in turn support the illicit liquor trade. We call on the government to provide us with a solution and take action against the illicit liquor trade,” they added. (Newswire)

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The main suspect in the incident where six people died from consuming illicit liquor has been arrested by the Wennappuwa Police.

According to the Police, the suspect is a 47‑year‑old resident of Galawatta, East Bandirippuwa.

The post‑mortem examinations of five victims were conducted at the Chilaw Hospital, which revealed that the deaths were caused by alcohol poisoning.

The post‑mortem of the sixth victim is scheduled to be carried out today (08 Jan) at the Chilaw Hospital.

Meanwhile, eight other individuals who fell ill after consuming the illicit liquor are receiving treatment at hospitals in Negombo and Peradeniya.

Investigations into the deaths of six people on January 06 due to illicit liquor consumption were initiated by the Wennappuwa Police, leading to the arrest of two suspects.

The two suspects were produced before the Marawila Magistrate’s Court yesterday (07 Jan) and were remanded until January 19. 

Further investigations are being carried out by the Wennappuwa Police. (Newswire)

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At least five people have died after allegedly consuming an illicit alcoholic beverage in the Wennappuwa–Marawila area, police said.

The bodies of three individuals suspected to have died after drinking the illegal liquor were found inside a house in the area, according to police.

Two other persons who were in critical condition were admitted to the Wennappuwa Hospital for treatment but later succumbed, hospital sources said.

Marawila Police have launched further investigations into the incident to determine the exact cause of death and the source of the suspected illicit alcohol. (Newswire)

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A team of officers from the Western North Unit of the Police Special Task Force has arrested a person in possession of 52.6g of ‘ICE’ in a raid conducted in the Kendaliyaddapaluwa area of Ragama on Tuesday (11).

According to the Police, the suspect, who is a 34-year-old resident of the same area, has been handed over to the Ragama Police for further investigations.

In a separate incident, officers from the Puwarasankulam camp of the Police Special Task Force conducted a liquor raid in the Iraniiluppukulam area of the Madu Police Division, Mannar, at midnight yesterday.

As a result, a 25-year-old suspect from the same area was arrested along with 25l of illegal liquor, 80l of Goda and a copper pot, along with equipment used for the production of liquor. He has been handed over to the Madu Police.

The Police also arrested a suspect with 160 litres of Goda in a raid conducted by the Hali Ela camp of the Police Special Task Force in the Dickwella area yesterday. 

The 40-year-old suspect, a resident of the same area, has been handed over to the Hali Ela police station. (Newswire)

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Two suspects who had transported 90 litres of illicit liquor in a three-wheeler have been apprehended in the Mahingoda area in Eheliyagoda.

According to the Police, the suspects were apprehended during a raid conducted by the Eheliyagoda Police based on a tip-off.

The Police seized 90 litres of illicit liquor transported in three barrels inside a three-wheeler. 

The suspects, aged between 44 and 48 years, are residents of Parakaduwa and Eheliyagoda. (Newswire)

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A Chinese national has been arrested for producing illicit liquor in the Brandiyawatte area in Wellampitiya.

The man was arrested during a joint operation conducted by the Wellampitiya Police and Police Special Task Force (STF), based on a tip-off.

The Chinese man was found to have been illegally producing alcohol at a house taken on rent in the Brandiyawatte area. 

A total of 300,018ml of ethanol and 67,5000ml of illicit liquor were seized from the suspect’s possession.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect had worked as an engineer in the Colombo Lotus Tower project.

The Wellampitiya Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A couple was arrested for the possession and transportation of 337.5 litres of illicit liquor in the Millagashandiya area in Bandaragama yesterday.

The Police said the couple had been arrested while transporting the stock of illicit liquor in a double cab.

The Police had also recovered Rs.121,298 in cash from the suspects’ possession assumed to be used for the illicit liquor business. 

The arrested suspects are a 56-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman, who are residents of Kidelpitiya. 

The Bandaragama Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Excise Department is considering introducing a low-cost alcohol product as an alternative to illicit liquor.

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department told the media that illicit liquor was a serious issue in Sri Lanka, which caused the department to lose nearly 30% of its revenue. 

He further said that raids on illicit liquor dens were not the only solution for the issue and that an alternative solution was necessary. 

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department as such, following discussions with the Finance Ministry, a suggestion has been made to introduce a low-cost alcohol product as an alternative to illicit liquor.

Stating that the product will be subject to examinations by the Government Analysts Department for quality tests, he said with their approval it will be introduced to the local market.

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department said these measures are not being taken to increase revenue or promote alcohol, but instead, to assist in minimizing addiction to illicit liquor. (Newswire)

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