SLLLA says no liquor company sponsored tax week awareness, but used its own money

Says it is a pity that government officials did not take part in the event    

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Sri Lanka Liquor Licensee’s Association (SLLLA) yesterday  denied any involvement of a liquor company sponsoring an awareness  programme organised by them in line with the government’s National Tax  Week and said that they used their own money for the event.   

An official from the SLLLA said it was a pity that no  government authority representing either the Ministry of Finance or the Department of Excise took part in the special awareness programme  organised by them to educate their members countrywide.   

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, President SLLLA Ajith Udugama  said over 250 liquor licence holders island-wide attended the awareness  programme organised at a hotel in Negombo on Saturday, and said they used  their own funds for the event.   Udugama categorically denied any particular liquor company  conducting a brand promotion during their event, but said one of the four  leading liquor companies that participated in the event had  demonstrated the health aspect of their products, which is not illegal  under the NATA Act.  

He said the programme was not organised for the public but  for the liquor license holder,s and it is not an offence under the NATA  Act to educate the industry stakeholders on the products.   

The Finance Ministry officials, including the Deputy Finance  Minister, Excise Commissioner General and other government officials,  had boycotted the said even,t stating a nongovernmental party had  organised an awareness programme, which was sponsored by a leading  liquor company in the country.   

Asked whether any state authority, including the National  Authority on Alcohol and Tobacco, had inquired about said event, the  President SLLLA said nobody had questioned them thus far.