Friday Jul 31, 2026
Friday Jul 31, 2026
Friday, 31 July 2026 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The use of rice and sugar as primary ingredients in beer production will come under judicial scrutiny after the Court of Appeal fixed 2 October to hear objections in a petition seeking to prevent regulators from approving the practice.
The petition, filed by a group of licensed liquor sellers, argues that permitting rice and sugar to be used as the principal raw materials in beer production is inconsistent with the Excise Ordinance and could have broader implications for the use of subsidised agricultural commodities.
A bench comprising Justices R. Gurusinghe and A. Prema Shankar fixed the matter for 2 October after counsel appearing for several respondent liquor manufacturing companies sought time to file objections.
The Court granted the respondents permission to file their objections before the next hearing.
The petition names the Commissioner General of Excise and other relevant Excise officials, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the Attorney General, and the Inspector General of Police among the respondents.
According to the petitioners, Section 2 of the Excise Ordinance defines beer as a fermented alcoholic beverage made from malt. They contend that information has emerged indicating that a number of manufacturers are using rice and sugar as the primary raw materials in beer production, contrary to the provisions of the law.
The petitioners further argue that the Government is providing substantial public subsidies to support domestic rice production and that diverting rice to commercial beer manufacturing could have adverse consequences for the national economy and undermine efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency.
They have sought a writ order restraining the Commissioner General of Excise and other relevant authorities from approving the use of rice and sugar as the primary raw materials in beer production pending the determination of the case.
