Hotline to report alcohol smuggling

• Public requested to make complaints to 1913 hotline

A hotline established by the Excise Department under the Finance Ministry to catch alcohol smugglers has been flooded with calls, resulting in 473 complaints since its launch. 

Therefore, the Finance Ministry yesterday called on the public to remain vigilant and increase awareness of the 1913 hotline that enables people to complain about illicit alcohol. The hotline was started on 19 August.   Last month, the Excise Department banned the sale of all brands of imported liquor without a new fool-proof sticker introduced by them, with the possession, transportation, storing, and sale of imported liquor being illegal, unless this new sticker is affixed on the containers. The Excise Notice No: 4/2019, which was published under Gazette Extraordinary No: 2128/30, issued by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in this regard under the Excise Ordinance on 20 June, has been in force effective 20 July.  

Accordingly, under the first phase, this regulation has been implemented on imported liquor (effective 20 July) and, it will be extended to foreign liquor that are manufactured here, and local liquor as well, in the near future. Thereafter all kinds of liquor local or foreign should have the special sticker introduced recently by the Excise Department on such bottles and cans.