Does SL need 24hr booze shops in the first place – Excise Chief asks

• Says the country has laws for a reason and even the Excise Ordinance is about 110 years old

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Responding to State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage’s statement in the House yesterday, Chief of Excise Department questioned whether Sri Lanka needs to have 24-hour liquor-selling places in the first place.

Excise Commissioner General M. J. Gunasiri maintained that the country has laws for a reason and even the Excise Ordinance is about 110 years old, which was introduced by the English with appropriate timings for the sale of alcoholic beverages.

“It is the task of the members of the House to make policies or laws and we are there to implement them. If the Parliament takes a policy decision to invent 24-hour liquor-selling places then that would become the law,” the Excise Chief said.

“However, there are certain countries, especially in Europe and the west that have granted permission for round-the-clock liquor sales. But there are so many factors that one has to consider if it is happening in Sri Lanka including the aspects of culture, the economic status of citizens in general and many other issues.

Not to mention the technical issues the department has to face if a new policy like this is adopted, including the deployment of more staff to observe and protect the Excise law with more resources and etc.,” Gunasiri said.
He said that during special events or festive periods,  the Excise Department has granted permission for the late sale of liquor accordingly on numerous occasions when the need arises. Therefore, it is important to look into this matter whether there is a genuine requirement in the country to introduce a policy like this.