December 27, Colombo (LNW): The newly appointed Chief of the Department of Excise has announced a bold shift in strategy for tackling illicit activities in Sri Lanka, urging officials to focus on high-level criminals rather than pursuing minor offenders in a bid to drive real societal change in the coming year.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, U.L. Udaya Kumara Perera outlined his vision for reform within the Excise Department. He stated that the traditional performance evaluation system, which required officers to meet annual court case quotas, would be overhauled.
The new approach will prioritise high-impact operations targeting large-scale illegal liquor production and narcotic trafficking, rather than simply meeting arbitrary case numbers.
Under the current system, Excise officers are expected to file between 250 and 300 court cases annually, with many of them resulting from small-scale arrests, such as individuals caught with a few bottles of illicit liquor or small amounts of narcotics.
Perera pointed out that these types of busts, while necessary for law enforcement, fail to address the root of the problem and do little to curb the widespread issues of illicit alcohol production and drug trafficking in the country.
“I have instructed my officers to shift their focus. From now on, we will not be going after the small fry,” said Perera. “Instead, we aim to target and dismantle the major players in the illicit liquor trade and narcotics networks. This is the kind of action that will make a real difference and bring about meaningful change in the community.”
Perera revealed that he intends to cancel the existing target-based performance system, which incentivised officers to achieve a high volume of court cases rather than the quality of their work.
“The real measure of success should be the impact of the cases we bring to court, not just the quantity,” he added.
Historically, Excise Department officers who were involved in large-scale operations, such as major raids on illicit liquor dens, were rewarded with a 25 per cent bonus on their monthly salary.
However, in an effort to foster teamwork and ensure that all members of a successful operation benefit, Perera announced that this reward system would be revised in 2025.
Under the new scheme, the entire team or unit involved in a significant bust would receive the extra allowance, in line with practices used by other government agencies like Sri Lanka Customs.
“This new approach will help build a stronger, more cohesive force within the Excise Department, one that is driven by collective success rather than individual targets,” Perera explained. “By rewarding teams for making a real impact, we hope to inspire a greater sense of responsibility and pride in the work we do.”
This change in direction is part of a wider effort to tackle the growing challenges posed by illegal liquor production and drug trafficking, which continue to undermine public health and safety in Sri Lanka.
With this more strategic focus, the Department of Excise is aiming to make a tangible difference in the fight against organised crime.
