By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The increase in production costs resulted in all soft and hard liquor prices in Sri Lanka going up from midnight yesterday, with approximately Rs.100 per bottle of arrack and Rs.10 per bottle of beer, the Department of Excise said.  A number of local liquor manufacturing companies have resorted to the move of increasing the prices of both arrack and beer from midnight of Tuesday (15).  

 Excise Spokesperson and Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe told the Daily Mirror that the Excise Department has no jurisdiction over the increase of liquor prices this time as it was due to the soaring production costs.  

 “There are two reasons why the liquor prices go up. One is due to the Excise duty being increased by the department as per the instructions of the Ministry of Finance. The other is owing to the increase of the production cost and the manufacturers increasing the prices”.  

 He said, although the liquor distilleries could increase their prices owing to escalating production costs, the latter should inform the Department of Excise about the new prices as soon as they decided to do so.  

 Commissioner Kumarasinghe said as per the new prices sent by a number of distillery companies, the Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) had increased their entire arrack products by Rs.100 per bottle pro-rata. Therefore, the price of half a bottle would be increased by 50% and quarter by 25%.  

 Meanwhile, Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC will increase its products by Rs.10. All the other leading companies have also sent lists of their new prices to the Excise Department, the spokesman said.  

 “Some manufacturers have increased their entire product range, whilst some companies have increased the prices of selected varieties,” he 
further added.