Officers from the Excise Department's Special Operations Unit have seized unlicensed liquor stocks from multiple establishments within Colombo Port City, including a luxury party boat and two venues, resulting in three arrests.
The Excise Department conducted coordinated raids across three separate locations within Colombo Port City on Wednesday, targeting businesses suspected of operating without proper liquor licenses. According to an Excise official, the operations were carried out by the department's Special Operations Unit following directives from senior officials.
One raid focused on a luxury party boat that was allegedly ferrying groups out to sea while carrying alcoholic beverages without authorization. The vessel reportedly charged between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 60,000 per outing and served clients from Sri Lanka, India, and China. Officers intercepted the boat at sea and apprehended a suspect along with the unlicensed liquor on board.
In separate operations, Excise officers targeted a restaurant within Port City and another establishment, discovering significant stocks of premium alcoholic beverages being sold or held beyond the scope of their licenses. The seized items included high-value bottles of Rémy Martin reportedly worth more than Rs. 50,000 each, in addition to beer and other spirits. Three suspects have been arrested in total and are scheduled to appear before the Fort Magistrate's Court.
The Excise Department emphasized that unauthorized liquor sales result in substantial losses to government revenue and called on the public to report illegal alcohol operations in their areas.
