President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, issued a gazette today(28), revising excise tax and fee payment regulations for liquor production.

The new rules mandate that license holders must pay the required excise tax by the specified date. 

Failure to pay within 30 days of the prescribed date will result in the suspension of the bottling license. 

Moreover, if payment is not made within 90 days of the due date, all licenses held by the individual will be suspended.

This shortens the total suspension period from a previous six months to three months. 

The changes aim to minimise excise tax evasion and ensure better compliance.