Protective sticker compulsory on all liquor bottles in 2022

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Excise Department of Sri Lanka says they will make it compulsory to paste a protective sticker on top of all local and imported liquor bottles and cans, from the 3rd of January 2022.

Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe says a grace period has been declared till April to sell or paste a protective sticker on all liquor bottles and cans currently in the market.

He reiterated that the sticker was introduced to prevent individuals from smuggling foreign liquor bottles into the country, and preventing the government from gaining tax revenue.

Kumarasinghe said a digital certificate unique to each sticker will be established as well.

He hoped all liquor bottles will bear the sticker by the beginning of April 2022.

The Excise Department hoped the introduction of the sticker would prevent any income tax revenue not being recognised.