INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A new excise licensing system allowing for more flexible operating hours of liquor stores, in a bid to discourage the illicit selling of
liquor and to maintain industry discipline is set to be introduced for the Excise Department, President Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed.The
new licensing system also allows for the streamlining of the guidelines issued for various types of liquor licenses, the revision of those
regulations related to activities concerning tourism promotion, the introduction of an appropriate policy for soft liquor licenses, and the
maintenance of discipline within the industry at the highest possible level.Meanwhile, an online license-issuing system is also set to be
provided by the Excise Department will also be introduced.President Wickremesinghe also stated that a committee will be appointed to
evaluate the security features and their management systems, in order to address an array of issues including fake or counterfeit
stickers.Delivering the parliamentary speech on the 2024 Budget on Monday afternoon (13 Nov.), President Wickremesinghe further noted that
Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certifications will also be introduced for toddy and all other types of locally manufactured liquor, while the
toddy tender system is also set to be revised in a manner that would allow for an increased gain of revenue.By doing so, the government also
be increased in proportion to the ongoing demand for said licenses, while new investments are being encouraged for new types of liquor
products, targeting the foreign market specifically.Aiming to not only maintain the quality of products while targeting both, local and
to make selected locally produced liquor available at Duty Free outlets.
