Minister Sunil Handunnetti says that there are two or three officials in the Ministry of Finance who are taking money from liquor traders and that he will soon reveal who they are. The Minister stated that the decision to increase the price of ethanol to Rs. 800 was made to protect the sugar industry.
The Minister alleges that the price of arrack has increased because several officials in the Ministry of Finance are taking money from arrack moneylenders and that they are not allowing this problem to be resolved.
The Minister emphasizes that there are several officials who have not been able to change their old wrong political practices and that they will soon be exposed.
He made the following comments while addressing Parliament yesterday.