Excise makes string of toddy raids near Panadura schools

Excise Department conducted a string of raids targeting taverns selling toddy sans permits and also being in the vicinity of leading schools in Panadura yesterday morning.

Excise Department Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) responding to several public complaints launched a series of raids in the vicinity of Agamathi Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Panadura and detected ten taverns selling toddy, including a wholesale store.

Excise Spokesman Deputy Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe told the Daily Mirror none of the raided taverns had valid permits to sell toddy and had violated the law by operating within half mile radius to the school.

He said the complainants had stated that due to the functioning of these taverns the surrounding areas had been littered by the consumers who had also made lot of noise and behaving in an indecent and disorderly manner after consuming liquor.

The sleuths seized over 1,000 bottles of toddy and 11 persons were taken into custody in connection with operating the illicit spots.

At the time of the raids, at least 15 to 20 persons were present at each spot to consume liquor.

A team of officials led by OIC Excise BSO P. N. Hemantha along with Excise Inspectors Y. A. S. P. Yapa, A. T. Weeraman and Amila Senanayake conducted the raids on the instructions of Excise Commissioner General R. Semasinghe and Excise Superintendent (BSO) Channa Weerakkody.