Hikkaduwa hoteliers vehemently oppose revised liquor licence fee

8 April 2015 02:40 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Jeevananda S. Kaviratne
The owners of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority-approved tourist hotels and guesthouses operating in Hikkaduwa recently convened a meeting to discuss the issue of sudden increase of the annual liquor licence fee almost by 100 percent to Rs.500,000.
These hoteliers and guesthouse owners had already paid the annual liquor licence fee for the year 2015, an amount of Rs.275,000.
Making the things worse, Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretary had sent a letter dated March 25, 2015 to all the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority-approved hoteliers and guesthouse owners in Hikkaduwa requesting to pay the latest licence fee, giving a deadline of three days.
The said letter sent by the Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretary had reached the hoteliers only on March 31, 2015, the hoteliers complained.
These hoteliers said that it was impossible for them to pay such a large amount of money within a matter of few days.
The tourist hotel and guesthouse owners vehemently opposed the deadline and threatened to close down the liquor bars in their hotels, if reasonable action was not taken immediately by the relevant authorities to repeal the newly imposed unreasonable liquor licence fee.
Hikkaduwa Tourist Hoteliers’ Association Chairman and Colombo Hoteliers’ Association Vice Chairman Siri Gunawardena said that taking a decision of this nature without consulting the hoteliers was both unfair and undemocratic.
He said this latest decision of the Finance Ministry and other relevant authorities would have unhealthy outcomes, affecting every aspect of the tourism industry across the country.
Hikkaduwa Middle-Scale Tourist Hoteliers’ Association Chairman Harischandra de Silva said if immediate action was not taken by the authorities to reduce the annual liquor licence fee back to the previous, which the hoteliers had already paid for the year 2015, the only alternative was to refrain from obtaining a liquor licence and to close down the liquor bars in their hotels.
Just like numerous other unauthorised hoteliers and guesthouses operating in Hikkaduwa offering liquor to foreigners without a licence, he said that there was a very strong tendency even for the authorised hoteliers and guesthouses resorting to illegal selling of liquor without obtaining an annual license fee.
He said liquor was freely available everywhere in Hikkaduwa and these unauthorised liquor outlets had already posed a great threat for the survival of authorised tourist hotels and guesthouses.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Hikkaduwa hoteliers vehemently oppose revised liquor licence fee

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations