Buddhika Pathirana, Member of Parliament for Matara District under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), raised an alarming issue in Parliament on the 23rd, revealing the discovery of counterfeit liquor bottle stickers in over a hundred bars across the nation. These fraudulent stickers were detected in various locations, including Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Ratnapura, with their origin traced back to a location in the Gampaha district.
MP Pathirana addressed the Finance Minister with his concerns regarding the counterfeit stickers and their widespread use. He emphasized that the issue extends to multiple districts and pointed out a specific address associated with the distribution of these fake stickers.
Drawing historical context into the matter, Pathirana referenced previous incidents involving individuals allegedly connected to the distribution of counterfeit stickers. He urged the State Minister to initiate a thorough investigation into the issue, considering both past and present circumstances, and expressed the importance of holding responsible parties accountable.
In response, Finance State Minister Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya acknowledged the gravity of the situation. He assured Parliament that the counterfeit stickers have been submitted to the Government Analyst for investigation. The State Minister made a commitment to take stringent action against all parties involved, regardless of their rank or position.
Dr. Siyambalapitiya highlighted that the introduction of the sticker system in 2016 aimed to curtail the evasion of liquor taxes by licensed companies. He noted that this system contributed to a significant increase in excise revenue in 2021 compared to the previous year, amounting to Rs. 19 billion. Additionally, he mentioned that alcohol production witnessed an 11 percent upswing.
