Retail liquor traders expressed frustration after the Excise Commissioner General and other top officials failed to attend an awareness programme organised by the Sri Lanka Liquor Licensees’ Association last Saturday (14) at the Avenra Garden Hotel in Negombo.
The event, held in line with Tax Week, aimed to educate liquor traders about strategies to increase excise tax revenue. Invitations were sent to retail liquor traders nationwide, with Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma as the chief guest. Other invitees included Presidential Senior Assistant Secretary Sisira Nishantha Jayawira, the Excise Commissioner General U.L. Udayakumara, and officials from liquor manufacturing companies sponsoring the programme.
However, participants said that guests including the Excise Commissioner General had not shown up, and an official from the Department of Inland Revenue was present.
D. G. A. Udugama, President of the Sri Lanka Liquor Licensees’ Association, criticised the absence of the Excise Commissioner and other top officials, saying, “The event was organised to discuss ways to increase excise revenue, but the Excise Commissioner failed to show up, which was very disappointing.”
Association Treasurer Ravin Soysa echoed the sentiments, adding, “His absence undermined the seriousness of the discussions and the efforts of the traders who came to participate.”
Chaminda Kuruppuarachchi Secretary of the Association said: “We expected more cooperation from the authorities, especially for a matter as important as excise tax collection.”
When contacted, Excise Commissioner General U.L. Udayakumara said his attendance at such events had not been mandatory and that he acted only according to instructions from the Ministry of Finance.