14 June,2011 03:37 PM IST | | Agencies
A Chinese man has become the first foreign national to be arrested in Sri Lanka for illegally producing alcohol, police said today.
The man was operating a thriving moonshine operation in the central region of Pussellawa where he had settled down with a local woman after he was fired by a Chinese road construction company carrying out work in Sri Lanka.
Police said the man who was not immediately named was arrested yesterday together with at least four barrels of his spirits and other distilling paraphernalia.
The arrest underscored the growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka where several big-ticket construction projects have been awarded to Chinese firms.
In the island's deep south, Chinese road signs have come up to help large numbers of Chinese workers engaged in a port construction. Police said the Chinese man had a visa to remain in the country.
If convicted, he could face a fine of over 1,00,000 rupees.
