Despite the travel restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 in 2021, the Excise Department has achieved a record revenue of Rs.139 billion.
“This is the highest revenue earned in a single year in the 109-year history of the Excise Department,” Commissioner General of Excise M.J.Gunasiri said yesterday.
He said there were several key factors that helped the Excise Department collect more revenue in 2021.
Describing them, the Commissioner General said that this was mainly due to discussions with liquor producing companies, performance of the officers of the department and the efforts to curb illicit liquor. He said Excise Officers had conducted 40,000 successful raids on illegal breweries and sellers.
Gunasiri also said that with the support of the Finance Ministry Rs.60 million was utilised to pay allowances and other payments due to officers from 2019 to 2021.
