COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has issued 538 soft alcohol licences under regulations started in 2022 to support the tourism sector, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.
“Under a gazette notification in 2022 on a request by the tourism industry to promote tourism, the government began issuing soft liquor licences,” Minister Siyambalapitiya told Parliament, noting that 538 soft liquor licences had been issued so far and that anyone with a tourist permit is able to apply for a licence for their restaurant.
Siyambalapitiya cited a World Health Organization (WHO) report, as recording that since 2004 Sri Lanka’s illegal alcohol sales have gone up by 500%, compared to 50% legal sales.
Sri Lanka has high taxes on legal alcohol which promote bootlegging.
“The government at no point promotes liquor usage,” Siyambalapitiya said highlighting high taxes, close to 75% of the price of a bottle, as the best example of this.
However, he said the government has to follow policies that promote tourism.
Siyambalapitiya was responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on issuing liquor licences to vendors in proximity to schools.
Noting that efforts need to be made to ensure the licences are issued to vendors in appropriate locations Siyambalapitiya said, it becomes an issue in non-tourist areas.
He also said that based on public complaints liquor licences issued to three vendors in close proximity to schools have been cancelled and similar actions will be taken in the future too.
The lack of access to legal alcohol outlets can also promote moonshine sales, Siyambalapitiya said, explaining that authorities were conducting a review to find the spread of legal outlets.
“For example, in Nuwara Eliya there are 115 outlets which is one for 6,809 persons,” Siyambalapitya noted, adding that in Mullaitivu however, there is only one outlet for 990,000 persons.
A total of 4,570 permits of 25 different categories have been issued, Siyambalapitiya said.
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