Parliament discusses licenses tied to Ranil Wickremesinghe amid Northern Province protests

In Parliament on October 21, 2026, discussions took place regarding licenses associated with Ranil Wickremesinghe. This occurred while protests were taking place in Tellippalai, Northern Province. The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi parliamentary group leader called on the government to reconsider new liquor outlets in Jaffna and Kilinochchi due to objections from Tamil residents regarding locations near schools and residential areas. The leader also requested details on 361 liquor licenses issued under Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2024, including investigations into alleged irregularities.

The allegations of irregularities in the licensing process, including claims from the National People’s Power government that 172 licenses were political bribes, raise questions about regulatory transparency. This scrutiny could impact the government's ability to manage excise revenue and licensing standards in the Northern Province.