Court order preventing Excise Dept. from issuing liquor licenses

The Supreme Court today (02) has issued an interim injunction preventing the Excise Department from issuing liquor licenses in violation of the provisions of the Excise Act of Sri Lanka.
The court order will be in effect until May 10, 2024.
A three-member bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva and Arjuna Obeysekera delivered the interim injunction after taking into consideration 03 fundamental rights (FR) petitions filed by the Sri Lanka Liquor Licensees’ Association and several other parties.
Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena and several other legal counsels told the court that the Excise Department has been issuing liquor licenses in an irregular manner.
As such, the petitioning party requested the judge bench to deliver an injunction preventing the Excise Department from overriding the provisions of the Excise Act and regulations when issuing liquor licenses.