• The demand for legally produced liquor in the country had declined by 30%

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Department of Excise warned that the production and consumption of harmful illicit liquor is dangerously trending in the country as ‘tipplers’ are unable to continue buying their regular legally produced alcoholic beverage owing to skyrocketing prices.  

Sources at the department said their recent statistics have proved that regular consumers have begun distancing themselves from government taxed arrack and beer as prices have gone up exorbitantly and their purchasing power has decreased drastically.   

The issue has been taken up at a recent meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) held at the Parliament under MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa which was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs and the Sri Lanka Excise Department.