Excise revenue beats 1Q target by 13.6% to hit Rs. 70.4 b

Tuesday, 21 April 2026 01:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Excise Department has exceeded its first quarter revenue target for 2026, marking stronger enforcement and improved compliance.

Excise revenue reached Rs. 70.4 billion as at 31 March, surpassing the quarterly target of Rs. 61.95 billion by 13.6%. The performance also reflects a 14.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

The Department, which is the third-largest contributor to Government revenue, has been assigned a total target of Rs. 245 billion for the year.

Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Premaratne attributed the strong outturn to policy direction under the new Government and the commitment of Excise officers across all ranks.

He said a series of enforcement and monitoring measures have played a key role in boosting collections. These include continuous oversight of liquor manufacturers and distilleries, the introduction of security seals on bottles, expanded raids on illicit alcohol production, and tighter inspections of licenced premises.

Authorities also highlighted stricter legal enforcement as a contributing factor in improving compliance and securing higher excise revenue in 1Q.