37 liquor permits issued this year, 474 more can be given: Siyambalapitiya

9 May 2024 01:13 pm - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Parliament, May 09 (Daily Mirror)- A total of 37 new liquor permits (FL4) were issued by the Excise Department during the first four months of this year, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today.

He told Parliament that 16 out of the 37 were issued to super markets.

Responding to a question by MP Jayantha Samaraweera, the Minister said 214 liquor permits were issued in 2023 and 147 out of that were given to the tourism sector and added that according to the population ratio, 474 more liquor permits can be issued.

"The number of FL4 liquor permits are decided according to the population. There should be some 1,578 liquor permits (FL4) in the country by 2024. So, 474 more permits can be given," he said.

MP Jayantha Samaraweera said there was a public outcry that liquor permits have been given to MPs including some opposition MPs, and urged the Minister to reveal the MPs who have obtained the permits.

He said it was reported that the Excise Department had issued 1,008 applications for liquor permits and that a permit is being sold for Rs. 30 million in the market.

"Permits issued to MPs are reportedly given to super markets. Steps must be taken to stop that to ensure that the government received the revenue," the MP said.

The Minister said liquor consumption in the country had reduced by 19 percent in 2023 when compared to 2022.

RECOMMENDED WORLD NEWS

Sri Lanka deeply shocked by tragic death of President Raisi: Ranil

21 minute ago

Elon Musk to visit Sri Lanka this year to launch Starlink

2 hours ago

Chief prelates urge Presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara Thera on Vesak Poya day

2 hours ago

Iran’s President Raisi, Foreign Minister die in helicopter crash

3 hours ago

What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

3 hours ago

Total of 10,299 people affected, two injured due to rain, drought

4 hours ago

Citizen Thursday, 09 May 2024 01:22 PM

Are you proud of that, dear minister???? In a way, keeping people under the influence of alcohol is the only way the government can run their course..

Sokrates Thursday, 09 May 2024 01:30 PM

Liquor consumption was not reduced in 2023, but increased significantly. Not the legal one, but the illegal one due to the exorbitant alcohol taxes. In this country, the corrupt parliamentarians and ministers earn from every single drop of alcohol, whether legal or illegal, although they make more profit from the latter. How long will the people put up with this?

Poor Poor Thursday, 09 May 2024 01:57 PM

Very good income generation project.

Gabriella Thursday, 09 May 2024 03:51 PM

Malaysia has food courts everywhere. Sri Lanka will have liquor shops on every intersection. I think that may raise our status to developed nation.

Ram Thursday, 09 May 2024 04:31 PM

You issue permits and new liquor sales shops will open. With no money to keep the home fires burning I cannot visit these places to buy any drink.

Rom Thursday, 09 May 2024 05:04 PM

If sri lanka had smart inviduls to take up the top jobs in government portfolios today this nation would have doing wonters rather doing unnecessary business that dont give a face lift to the nations economy somany other important avenues to stimulate the economy

Tax payer Thursday, 09 May 2024 05:53 PM

Government should sell liquor license by on-line bidding, so can collect more revenue to the government. People should force government to collect maximum revenue like this else we have to pay taxes from our salary

Rishan Thursday, 09 May 2024 08:32 PM

Even from liquor permit they will make good bucks...

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 09 May 2024 10:21 PM

That means , every MP xsn get 2 permits.

Patcitz Thursday, 09 May 2024 10:45 PM

The GIFTS for Ranil's staunch allies to support his cause of CORRUPTION.

Sambo Friday, 10 May 2024 08:00 AM

Issuing liquor permits is one thing, but give the public the money to buy the liquor.

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.

37 liquor permits issued this year, 474 more can be given: Siyambalapitiya

RECOMMENDED WORLD NEWS

Sri Lanka deeply shocked by tragic death of President Raisi: Ranil

Elon Musk to visit Sri Lanka this year to launch Starlink

Chief prelates urge Presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara Thera on Vesak Poya day

Iran’s President Raisi, Foreign Minister die in helicopter crash

What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

Total of 10,299 people affected, two injured due to rain, drought

Most Viewed in News

Sri Lanka cricketer to retire after World Cup & migrate to Melbourne

A leading hotel in Derby, UK sold to Sri Lankan company

Ranil meets Elon Musk

Not only on-arrival visas but online visas too should be stopped

Arrest of four persons over War Dead Commemoration: Sri Lankan authorities in Canada in dilemma

Iran helicopter crash: President Ebrahim Raisi dies

Comments - 11

Add comment

LATEST NEWS

Sri Lanka deeply shocked by tragic death of President Raisi: Ranil

Elon Musk to visit Sri Lanka this year to launch Starlink

Chief prelates urge Presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara Thera on Vesak Poya day

Iran’s President Raisi, Foreign Minister die in helicopter crash

What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

POPULAR WORLD NEWS

Sri Lanka cricketer to retire after World Cup & migrate to Melbourne

Not only on-arrival visas but online visas too should be stopped

Foreigner injured after falling from Lotus tower

Tharshan Selvarajah makes history as first Sri Lankan to carry Olympic torch

Sajith bars Daily Mirror over liquor controversy