Over Rs. 213 billion excise duty earned from sale of locally produced liquor in 2024

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, Feb. 5 (Daily Mirror) - The Excise Department has earned Rs. 213.39 billion as excise duty from the sale of locally produced liquor in 2024, Deputy Minister of Economic Development U.D. Nishantha Jayaweera revealed today.

He told Parliament that an excise duty of Rs. 1,832 is imposed on a bottle of 750 ml locally produced liquor (Special Arrack).

Responding to a question raised by MP Rohitha Abeygunawardhane, the Minister said 29.7 million bottles of 750 ml locally produced liquor have been sold in 2024 while 33.4 million bottles of 375 ml bottles have been sold in the same year.

Responding to a question on whether the government would reduce the excise duty on locally produced liquor which is widely used, the Minister said the government will consider it.