A shipment of ethanol ordered for the production of alcohol was held by Customs on suspicion that it was ordered after the Government imposed a ban on the import of ethanol in January, but was cleared late on Friday evening following inspection.
Director of Customs Sunil Jayarathna told The Sunday Morning that 20 tankers were being held by Sri Lanka Customs under this suspicion.
The shipment was ordered by the Harry Jayawardena-led Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC (DCSL), the country’s largest liquor manufacturer, according to the Director General of Customs (Retd.) Major General Vijitha Ravipriya. However, he said investigations were conducted by Customs to see whether the shipments of ethanol have been imported to the country before or after the government ban was imposed, and were subsequently cleared.
(The Morning)