News
Liquor producers in low spirits due to revenue drop
Diseases caused by tobacco, alcohol cost state coffers Rs. 100 bn annually – State Minister of Finance
By Chaminda Silva
Liquor manufacturers have informed the Excise Department that they will not be able to meet their revenue targets for the second half of the current year owing to a sharp decline in liquor consumption and increases in the prices of spirits.Excise Department Spokesman Kapila Kumarasinghe said that liquor producers had met Excise Commissioner General MG Gunasiri and informed him that the revenue target of Rs 185 billion set for 2022 would not be attainable.
The liquor producers said they also had to contend with two VAT increases, social security tax, and that the unprecedented hikes in the prices of ethanol, and fuel too, had contributed to a huge rise in liquor prices, causing sales to drop by 20 to 30 percent. The Excise Spokesman said that the liquor producers had pointed out that there would be high consumption of illicit liquor.
The Commissioner General in response said that a foolproof sticker, introduced by the Department, would enable the producers to reach their targets, but the producers pointed out that counterfeit stickers had been found in the market.State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, too, had observed, last Wednesday that the country’s alcohol consumption had fallen by between 20 and 30 percent in 2022, compared to last year, Kumarasiri said.
State Minister Siyambalapitiya said that at present taxes accounted for about 75 percent of the prices of alcohol. In the case of cigarettes, taxes amounted to 65 and 75 percent of the prices. He pointed out that anti-tobacco and anti-narcotic campaigners had urged him to raise the ratio to 90 percent.Sri Lanka spends about 100 billion rupees annually to treat those with alcohol and tobacco related diseases, Siyambalapitiya said.
Latest News
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
A significant rainfall of nearly 300 mm has been recorded in the upper catchment areas of the Kelani River Basin.
Based on this weather condition and the analysis of water level data from the hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kelani River Basin, a warning is hereby issued that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next 24 hours in the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley belonging to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ruwanwella,Seethawaka, Dompe, Dehiovita, Eheliyagoda, Yatiyantota, and Bulathkohupitiya.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
Furthermore, if heavy rains persist, this flood situation could extend to the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley downstream of Hanwella.
Disaster Management authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
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Showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.
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