Minister of State for Finance Dr. Ranjith Siambalapitiya says that not only the current governments, but even the British who ruled the country were unable to collect the actual alcohol tax revenue. the
The minister is of the opinion that increasing the alcohol tax revenue does not mean increasing the use of alcohol but streamlining the tax process.
“Even as far back as 1810, before the British completely conquered the country, about 7.6% of the government’s income was obtained from excise tax. In that year, the total income of the country was about 268,700 Rix dollars, while the income from the excise tax was about 20,500 Rix dollars. But the British National Revenue Commissioner at that time mentions that businessmen get more money than us as extra income by using different tactics. “One thing that is clear from this is that even the white people have not been able to earn the income from the excise tax,” says the minister.
According to a report issued by the World Health Organization, the alcohol industry in Sri Lanka has achieved a growth of 95% between 2004 and 2016. But the growth of its regular (legal) side is shown as 50%. The Minister also points out that the growth of illegal alcohol industry is 300%.
“The illegal alcohol industry that grew 300% in this way is not only the ones that are produced in the jungles. In some cases, this development is also done by some people wearing ties who carry out business by taking Excise licenses. The minister emphasized.
The minister said this while joining the annual general meeting of the Ceylon Excise Officers Association today.
