By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Wine stores in the country should be at least opened from 10 am to 10 pm so as to increase excise levy, Parliamentarian Diana Gamage said yesterday.  

We can collect excise duty only if we sell alcoholic products. Wine stores and restaurants should at least be kept open from 10 am to 10 pm. We lose billions of excise tax just because wine stores are closed at 9 pm,” she said.  

Gamage said even if wine stores were closed at 9 pm, people who wanted to purchase alcoholic drinks know how and where they can buy them after 9 pm.