No liquor licenses issued to any member in the current Parliament – Finance Ministry

Though liquor licenses were issued to Tourist Board approved hotels after 2015 with the aim of developing the tourism industry, no liquor licenses have been issued to any member in the current Parliament, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

While there are 4,910 liquor bars with all-purpose licenses in Sri Lanka, 1,100 among them are retail outlets, 1,567 hotel liquor licenses and 554 restaurant licenses. Furthermore, the Excise Department has issued licenses to 368 wine and beer sales outlets and 200 toddy taverns. Apart from these, licenses have been issued to 1,080 foreign liquor sales outlets, the statement said.

Further, the statement added that any person desiring to obtain a liquor serving license could obtain a permit under the rules and regulations stipulated by the Department.

In addition, the statement said that the Commissioner-General of Excise and the subject minister have the authority to issue a liquor license to any person fulfilling the conditions and requirements while taking into consideration the provisions of the Excise Act and excise announcements.

The list of liquor licenses issued has been published on the Excise Department’s website for public reference.