COPA recommends Excise Department speedily set up computer database to streamline its revenue calculation

by Saman Indrajith

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has directed the Excise Department to expedite the establishment of the computer database system to streamline the calculation of its revenue. This system will link the Excise Department, the Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Department.

According to a COPA media release this recommendation was made to the Excise Department during the COPA meeting chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitarana, held on 19 April to inquire into the Auditor General’s Report for the Department for the year 2020 and its current performance.

Commissioner General of Excise M.J. Gunasiri told the Committee that preliminary work on the computer system has already begun and it will be completed by January 2023.

The Committee instructed the Commissioner General to call for bids from the University of Moratuwa and the University of Colombo and make appropriate arrangements.

The Committee pointed out that establishing the database would enable the government to carry out the functions of the Excise Department, one of the country’s leading revenue earners, more efficiently and to increase its revenue significantly.

The Committee also drew attention to the progress made in maintaining a secure sticker management system for bottles of liquor and liquor-related products to increase government revenue. It was revealed that with the introduction of this sticker management system, the revenue of the Excise Department has increased by 17% in the first three months of last year alone.

The Committee also focused on management shortcomings, including the failure to document and maintain information on excise duty reduction on liquor exports and directed that appropriate action be taken to rectify them as soon as possible.

Members of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, (Dr.) (Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Prasanna Ranaweera, Mohomad Muzammil, (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi and Weerasumana Weerasinghe were also present at this meeting.