News
Ranawaka calls for novel digital security sticker as key weapon against counterfeit stickers in liquor bottles
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, last week proposed the introduction of a standardized digital security sticker for all alcohol manufacturers. The move aims to address the rising issue of counterfeit security stickers that have plagued the industry, parliament sources said.
Addressing a meeting with Excise Department top brass and Finance Ministry officials at a committee room in the parliamentary complex, Ranawaka emphasized that the proposed security sticker should provide consumers with the means to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit alcohol products through the use of QR codes. Additionally, it should enable consumers to ascertain the amount of direct tax payable to the Excise Department and the tax applicable to each specific product.
Concerning the ongoing crackdown on fake safety stickers, officers from the Excise Department revealed that raids targeting these fraudulent stickers have been conducted consistently. Shockingly, in over 90% of these raids, the seized stickers have been found to be counterfeit.
Frustration has mounted due to difficulties in tracking down the culprits responsible for affixing fake stickers to liquor bottles, prompting complaints to the Criminal Investigation Department. Determining the origin of these counterfeit stickers remains elusive, adding to the challenge of resolving the issue.
MP Ranawaka insisted on the need for a comprehensive report on whether retail alcohol establishments have removed these counterfeit stickers. He stressed the importance of sustained raids and announced that establishments producing bottles with counterfeit stickers would have their production licenses revoked from the date of the fine.
The Chairman further instructed the Excise Department to provide a report on fines collected for counterfeit stickers since September 7, 2023. Additionally, he ordered an assessment of the revenue lost by the Excise Department due to these counterfeit stickers and requested a report to be submitted to the committee.
The committee’s discussions also revealed that seven entities have defaulted on their excise duty payments. Notably, Globe Blender and Northwest Spirits stand out as the two entities that owe a substantial 1.5 billion rupees in unpaid taxes. These entities have been given until October 15 to submit tax payment plans, failing which their production licenses will be suspended by October 30.
The committee meeting saw the participation of Members of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Ashok Abeysinghe, alongside officials from the Excise Department, Local Income Tax, and the Ministry of Finance. The collective effort aims to combat the persistent issue of counterfeit alcohol security stickers and safeguard the industry’s integrity.
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
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Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
It’s Shafali vs Athapaththu as Sri Lanka seek to stop India juggernaut
Trophy row unlikely to repeat in Japan
Powerful explosions at Syrian army site near Aleppo injure at least four
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