News
Excise Chief orders liquor manufacturers to install CCTV cameras by 30 Sept.
But unions say Madras Security Printer the number one culprit
Excise Commissioner General Saman Jayasinghe has ordered liquor manufacturing companies to install CCTV cameras by 30 Sept., in their factories allowing centralised observation by the Excise officials as a measure to prevent the use of forged revenue stickers on bottles of liquor. He has warned that noncompliance would lead to the cancellation of their licences.
The directive was given by Jayasinghe during a meeting with the heads of liquor producing companies at the Excise Headquarters at Rajagiriya on Monday.Jayasinghe told the liquor manufacturers that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had personally instructed him that severe action should be taken against those involved in forged sticker scam irrespective of their position and rank in the Department.
President Wickremesinghe had pointed out that this scam cannot go on without the knowledge of both liquor producers and retail sellers and their actions continue to drain the excise revenue due to the government, Jayasinghe said.
Meanwhile, the Unity of Excise Trade Unions issuing a statement following the directive of Excise Commissioner General said that the responsibility for the crisis caused by the forged revenue stickers should be apportioned on few Excise officers and the Madras Security Printers who supply the stickers to the Department to be distributed among the liquor producers. “It is our understanding that not all the Excise Department officials should be held responsible for this scam. There are a handful of senior officers who protect the MSP continuing with the supply of these stickers.
Even if the Excise officers seize liquor bottles with forged stickers, the MSP has not provided the department with the technology needed for subsequent legal processes. The agreement with the MSP was finalised during the Yahapalana rule in 2019 but the date of commencement is considered as Jan 03, 2022 so that the agreement is to continue till Jan 02, 2027. Since 2019, the MSP sympathizers put the blame on excise officers while a huge sum of money being taken to India, because the MSP charges 5.99 USD for 1,000 stickers whether they are paper or digital,” the statement signed by Nirosh Jayakody, Co-Secretary of the Unity said.
It said that the MSP is a blacklisted Indian company for notorious violations of agreements and contracts with many countries around the world. “We are aware of the invisible hand that made it possible for the entering of this contract with the MSP and we are ready to reveal the names and positions of those who were involved in this affair. Cause of most problems pertaining to the fool-proof revenue stickers was the MSP’s dubious conduct and its ability to get away without accountability,” Jayakody said, adding that the Unity may be compelled to make many revelations in the coming days if those with vested interests continue to hold excise officials responsible for the revenue sticker scam.
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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Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
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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