As a response to the requests of consumers and supermarkets, Excise department was proposed to the Ministry of Finance to allow online selling of liquor through supermarkets as a pilot project, Director General M.J. Gunasiri had stated.
He also said that it has been observed in the recent past that the majority of the people in the country have resorted to illicit consumption and production of liquor due to the closure of liquor stores island wide due to travel restrictions.
The news further revealed that the Ministry of Finance has been requested to allow consumers to purchase liquor online through supermarkets cause there is a risk of losing government tax revenue in the future due to such activities.
In the meantime, they had revealed another point. The government has lost about Rs. 15 billion due to the closure of liquor stores over the past month following the imposition of travel restrictions throughout the country.
As the corona epidemic spread across the country, authorities decided to close liquor stores with the imposition of travel restrictions across the country from 13th May .
Accordingly, the government has incurred a loss of over Rs. 15 billion due to the continuous closure of liquor stores over a month and the daily loss is estimated as over Rs. 500 million.
In addition to that, the Inland Revenue Department and the Customs Department which provide revenue to the government, the Excise Department is the third higher source of revenue.
But the Alcohol and Drug Information Center says it is untrue. The center points out that the per capita alcohol consumption is less than 4 liters. Excise officials also say that the closure of liquor stores has increased the production of moonshine, as a ploy to sell liquor.
However, the Police also point out that the amount of liquor and moonshine
produced at home has increased.
In some areas, people have been appointed to place such moonshine
orders. They go on scooter type motorcycles and give the relevant product to the buyer and take the money. The moonshine manufacturer pays the distributor Rs. 2000 per day.
Also in other areas quality liquor is sold for around Rs. 4,000 with the help of some excise officials. The closest example is Anuradhapura. Police investigations have revealed that the anuradhapura Sathosa store was opened and liquor was obtained with the assistance of excise officers.
-Shani-