New Excise Chief prioritises revenue, digitalisation and clean governance

Saturday, 12 July 2025 01:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Excise Department Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Premarathne

Newly appointed Excise Department Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Premarathne officially assumed duties yesterday, pledging to align the Department’s work with the Government’s broader national priorities of poverty alleviation, digitalisation and Clean Sri Lanka initiative.

Speaking at the assumption of duties, he stressed that the Excise Department plays a critical role as a key revenue generating agency for the State. “Our main responsibility is to ensure that the Department contributes effectively to the national economy. There are areas where we have missed revenue for years. We must work collectively to recover these and improve our overall performance,” he said.

Premarathne said he intends to work closely with all staff members and line agencies to strengthen coordination, streamline operations and boost efficiency in service delivery.

Highlighting the Government’s ongoing push to digitalise public institutions, he noted that Excise Department has already begun its own digital transformation.

The Commissioner General also expressed the desire to build a disciplined, transparent and rule-abiding Excise Department, one that every employee can be proud of and one that society can respect.

Pemarathne is a retired Commodore of the Sri Lanka Navy and his appointment was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers this week, following the impending retirement of U.L. Udaya Kumara Perera, a Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Service, who currently serves as Commissioner General of Excise.