Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has dismissed allegations that liquor licenses issued during his government were granted as bribes, emphasizing that all permits were issued transparently and legally, with substantial fees collected to boost state revenue. He addressed these accusations in response to criticism that the issuance of licenses had been manipulated for personal or political gain.
“I did not give those bar licenses for nothing. I sold them for 10, 15, or 20 million rupees each. These licenses alone contributed four to five billion rupees to state revenue,” Wickremesinghe stated. He explained that these funds were crucial for generating income without resorting to direct taxes, and no licenses were distributed for free or as favors.
Addressing claims that MPs had requested bar licenses for personal gain, Wickremesinghe said, “Some MPs sent people to me for licenses, but I didn’t hand them out to anyone who wanted to earn for themselves. This was about revenue for the government, not individual profits.”
Wickremesinghe also revealed that his government had issued around 300 bar permits during its tenure and had planned to grant 300 more in the following year. At a fee of 15 million rupees per license, this move would have added a significant sum to the state coffers. “These bar licenses were not given secretly. If anyone had asked, I would have shared the details earlier. Most of these permits were allocated to tourist hotels, further supporting the industry,” he noted.
Highlighting the importance of excise tax as a key revenue stream, he argued there was no reason to “hide and act virtuous” about the issuance of bar licenses. According to him, the transparent sale of these licenses was a legitimate means of bolstering the country’s finances.
