Minister. Dayana Gamage Requests : Retail-Prices of Sri Lankan Liquor Products should be —Reduced !

Speaking at Parliament session Minister Dayana Gamage has mentioned that due to high levels of taxes being imposed on alcoholic beverages, the Sri Lankan Excise department revenues had severely been affected throughout the past couple of months. And as a result the government itself is not receiving adequate income through the department as it was used to, before enormous taxations were implemented.

She further stated due to these circumstances the price of alcoholic products have risen beyond the reach of affordability from the average alcoholic beverage consumers throughout Sri Lanka. And as a result the majority of regular alcoholic beverage users have opted to make use of domestically-in house-made alcohol, to be consumed. She stated this doesn’t have to be this way and tax regulations regarding alcoholic products should be amended in a way that would benefit both the excise department revenue generation as well as benefiting the wider alcoholic consumers as well.

She specifically pointed out extreme high prices of alcoholic beverages has negatively impacted Sri Lankan tourism industry as a whole. And the government must take necessary steps immediately where everyone can get equally benefited through reducing taxes being imposed on alcoholic products and beverages.