News

Ranawaka calls for novel digital security sticker as key weapon against counterfeit stickers in liquor bottles

Published

2 years ago

2023/09/24

Chairman of the Parliamentary committee on Ways and Means, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka addressing the committee meeting last week. MP Ashok Abeysinghe is also in the picture.

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.

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:Parliamentary Committee Patali Champika Ranawaka

Up Next

US to increase development investment in Lanka by $19.2 Mn through USAID

Don't Miss

Moragoda inspects New Delhi pilgrims rest renovation work

Click to comment

Latest News

Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrives at Port of Colombo

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/10

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.

The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.

The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.

During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.