Silva vs Doris – clr volume 2 page 071

In the case between the appellant (defendant) charged with selling unlicensed Jamaica rum imported into Ceylon and the State, the court addressed the applicability of Ordinance No. 10 of 1844 to imported versus locally manufactured spirits. The findings established that the ordinance applies equally to all spirits, regardless of origin, thus affirming the conviction and sentence for selling imported rum without a license. The principle reaffirmed is that statutory provisions governing the manufacture and sale of spirits are not restricted by the origin of the liquor. This decision relied upon a plain reading of Ordinance No. 10 of 1844, emphasizing the comprehensive scope of its regulatory reach to both imported and locally produced spirits.

Lawrie J. — It was determined that Ordinance N