COLOMBO — A group identifying itself as “All Aggrieved Excise Officers” has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake raising a series of serious allegations concerning arbitrary conduct, corruption, abuse of authority and the alleged protection of a small group of favoured officials within Sri Lanka’s Excise Department.
The letter, dated August 24, 2026, opens with the claim that the Excise Department has descended into a state of “chaos.” According to its authors, one of the main reasons is the alleged conduct of the Commissioner General of Excise, whom they accuse of acting on the advice of a small group of individuals while subjecting other officers to unfair treatment and harassment.(This letter has been sent in Sinhala and is attached below.)
Allegations Against the Officer-in-Charge of Colombo City Excise Station
One of the principal officials named in the letter is Sampath Sirimanna, identified as the Officer-in-Charge of the Colombo City Excise Station.
According to the letter, Sirimanna contested the 2015 parliamentary election under the United National Party and, after his defeat, was removed from his position as an Excise Inspector. The letter claims that he subsequently returned to service through a process linked to claims of political victimisation.
The authors further allege that since returning to service he has faced several disciplinary inquiries relating to alleged fraud and corruption.
The letter also alleges that while serving in the Kurunegala area, he collected large sums of money from beedi manufacturers, resulting in a loss of government revenue.
It further claims that he subsequently secured transfers to Excise stations of his choice before eventually being stationed at the Colombo City Excise office.
The authors allege that he has been permitted to conduct operations against beedi manufacturers across the country and claim this authority is being exploited to obtain monthly payments from certain businesses.
Allegations Involving Nightclubs and Other Establishments
The letter further alleges that Sirimanna collects approximately Rs. 250,000 per month from nightclubs in Colombo and certain establishments operated by foreign nationals.
It claims that part of this money is passed to senior officials and alleges that such arrangements have enabled him to receive protection despite accusations of misconduct.
Questions Over Alleged Unexplained Assets
The complainants also allege that the officer possesses several vehicles, properties and houses suspected of having been acquired through unexplained or illicit wealth.
According to the letter, investigations have been initiated by several institutions into these assets, but the authors allege that those investigations are being suppressed or stalled.
Serious Allegations Against the Nationwide Special Operations Unit
Another official specifically named in the complaint is Neel Ekanayake, identified as the Officer-in-Charge of the Nationwide Excise Special Operations Unit.
The letter alleges that he collects substantial sums from licensed liquor establishments and beedi manufacturers across the country.
It also accuses him of harassing subordinate officers and claims that office facilities belonging to other officers, including air-conditioning equipment, have been removed and installed in his own office.
The complainants allege that action has not been taken against him because of his relationship with senior officials.
Highly Sensitive Allegations of Sexual Favouritism
The letter also contains highly sensitive allegations involving sexual relationships and alleged sexual favours purportedly used to obtain appointments, promotions or preferential treatment.
Among those named is Excise Superintendent Dheera Gunasekara. The complainants make allegations involving the wife of another Excise officer and claim that personal relationships have been exploited in connection with appointments and advancement within the Department.
These are particularly serious and potentially defamatory allegations. The letter itself does not provide independent evidence establishing them as fact, and they should therefore be treated strictly as claims requiring an impartial investigation and responses from those accused.
“Officers Are Already Deeply Frustrated”
According to the letter, the officials concerned are allegedly working together with senior management and subjecting other Excise officers to various forms of harassment.
The authors warn that the situation could deteriorate further and state that other officers within the Department are already working under conditions of severe frustration.
They urge the President to investigate the allegations and intervene to protect other Excise officers from alleged harassment and abuse of authority.
Complaint Copied to Multiple State Institutions
Significantly, the letter was not addressed solely to the President.
Copies were reportedly sent to the Secretary to the President, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary committees, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the relevant unit dealing with illicit assets, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, political party leaders, media organisations, the Public Service Commission, the Commissioner General of Excise and Excise Department trade unions.
The Key Question: Has an Investigation Been Launched?
If substantiated, the allegations contained in the letter would extend far beyond individual disciplinary misconduct.
They raise broader questions over whether regulatory and enforcement powers within one of Sri Lanka’s key revenue-collecting institutions are being exploited for private financial benefit; whether businesses subject to Excise regulation are being pressured for payments; whether officers are receiving preferential treatment through improper relationships; and whether investigations into alleged misconduct and unexplained wealth are being obstructed.
However, the allegations contained in the August 24 letter cannot, on the basis of this document alone, be treated as proven facts. Independent investigations, documentary evidence and responses from the officials named would be required to establish their accuracy.
The central question now is what action, if any, has been taken since August 24 by the Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Finance, anti-corruption authorities and the Excise Department.
Given the gravity of the allegations, the complainants’ call for an independent investigation places the matter squarely before the authorities: Will these allegations be formally investigated, or will the claims from within the Excise Department be allowed to disappear without answers?
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