IMF questions lower excise on imported liquor

Daily Mirror and Daily FT report that the International Monetary Fund has drawn attention to differing excise treatment of alcoholic drinks in Sri Lanka. Daily FT says imported beverages are subject to a lower fixed duty per litre than alcohol made domestically.

Daily Mirror reports that excise on locally made liquor has nearly doubled since 2019, while duties on imported spirits, wine and beer have remained unchanged. Daily Mirror describes the rates as being on an unequal footing, while Daily FT says the issue should be incorporated into the IMF’s Medium-Term Revenue Strategy policy and administration agenda.

Daily Mirror reports that liquor excise revenue reached Rs.137.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 27.1% from Rs.108.2 billion in the same period a year earlier. It also reports that liquor production increased by 13.3% and that new rules on the timing of duty payments were introduced.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.