News
Excise Commissioner General admits massive revenue leak due to ruses adopted by toddy manufacturers
By Chaminda Silva
Excise Commissioner General Ariyadasa Bodaragama yesterday admitted that there was a significant loss of excise revenue due to various tactics used by toddy manufacturers.
Commissioner General Bodaragama made the admission addressing the media conference at the Excise Headquarters in Rajagiriya.
“I am not certain that the amount is around Rs. 80 billion, but I am sure there is a loss of tax revenue,” the Commissioner General said, responding to questions from journalists who pointed out that Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana had repeatedly raised in Parliament that there was an annual loss of Rs. 80 billion to government coffers.
Bodaragama said that there was no attempt to issue a new liquor manufacturing licence contrary to rumours. “I assure you no new liquor licences will be issued without permission from the President.”
Deputy Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe said that the highest amount of liquor in the country is being sold in 85 milliliter bottles commonly known as quarters. “We had a meeting at the Ministry of Environment with Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera presiding. There we came to know that around 60 percent of quarters were recycled. We are planning to launch a project together with the Central Environmental Authority, and local government bodies to prevent the ‘quarters’ being disposed of haphazardly. As a first step towards this, we are introducing a compulsory deposit system so that the purchaser of the liquor would be made to pay a deposit for each quarter bottle he buys and that would be redeemed only when he returns the bottle.”
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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