The excise department has notified the Finance Ministry that it has experienced a Rs 27 billion loss of revenue due to the pandemic.
The Commissioner General of Excise M J Gunasiri told TimesOnline that though the excise department in a normal year makes around Rs 160 billion revenue, this year it experienced a loss of revenue as bars and taverns were closed as a measure to practice social distancing in view of the pandemic.
Furthermore the sales of liquor also reduced due to travel restrictions, lockdown curfew and reduction of tourism activities given the COVID–19 pandemic. Therefore the Excise department has requested Finance Ministry to consider these facts and prepare the budget proposals to mitigate the losses.
Ajith Gallage, the owner of a Bird Park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, has been remanded over allegations of concealing illegally imported motorcycles, in a warehouse owned by him.
The final rites of veteran broadcaster, writer, and lyricist Nirmala de Alwis will be held today at Peradeniya.
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