By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Pointing out the inability to increase their tax revenue in the past few years a Parliamentarian slapped the Department of Excise to go after the big booze makers to collect their due taxes properly.   

MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage making these remarks at the Parliament said last week the annual expected revenue of the Excise Department for the year 2023 should be Rs.270 billion but the latter, almost after six months had been able to earn only Rs.72.985 billion.   

The discussion surfaced when the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans with its chair MP Aluthgamage inquired the Department of Excise. The senior Excise representatives answered to the MP’s charges that owing to the heavy pricing on alcoholic spirits due to heavy government taxation had resulted in the sharp drop in sales thus significantly reducing the tax revenue.    To this the MP responded saying it was not due to the sudden increase of the liquor prices, which had caused the drop in tax revenue but the Department had failed to increase its tax revenue for the past few years.    “Take stringent measures to collect due taxes from top level liquor manufacturing companies and go after those who evade paying taxes appropriately,” Aluthgamage instructed the Excise officials.     He also instructed the officials to revoke the license granted to these booze manufacturers if they don’t pay their taxes appropriately.     

• Officials instructed to revoke licenses granted to booze manufacturers if they don’t pay their taxes appropriately