Govt. must eliminate liquor rackets instead of squeezing public dry: SJB

The SJB yesterday called on the government to take steps to prevent tax frauds in the liquor industry amounting to around Rs 80 billion a year instead of burdening the public with more taxes.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said the Excise Department, which was required to collect Rs 217 billion as taxes, had been able to collect only Rs 125 billion as at Sept. 30.

“I am surprised that the governent has not taken action to prevent frauds that cause a loss of Rs 80 billion rupees.  The Excise Department vowed to cancel the licences of liquor producers who failed to comply with settling due taxes by Oct. 31. Today is Nov 1, but no such penal action has been taken anyone in the liquor industry. Justice Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament a few days ago that around Rs 80 billion was lost due to the use of counterfeit revenue stickers alone. After the Ways and Means Committee of Parliament, headed by MP Champika Ranawaka, raised this issue, the Excise Department took action to seize the bottles of liquor with counterfeit revenue stickers,” MP Dr. de Silva said.

SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne also addressed the press.