Alcohol production drops

L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The manufacture of alcohol declined by two percent last year compared to the previous year, said the Commissioner General of Excise, Vasantha Hapuarachchi.

The demand for liquor has dropped. A significant trend in the society is that the younger generation in Sri Lanka is averse to liquor, he said.

The Mathata Thitha policy program implemented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa had made a significant impact on society, he added.

According to the excise revenue figures, the 2008 revenue was better than 2007. But the growth rate of the revenue was lower than 2007 due to the vigorous program implemented islandwide by the Mathata Thitha project.

According to the Commissioner General of Excise, the number of raids conducted last year to curb the illicit liquor menace increased. He said 56,510 raids were conducted last year. The target for 2008 was 60,000 raids. The Department was able to conduct 56,476 raids in 2007 and Rs. 269,220,017 was earned as revenue from fines imposed on offenders, he said. According to the latest administrative report of the Department, a slight reduction of beer consumption while an increase of arrack consumption had been recorded during the past years. The increase of arrack consumption was reported mainly in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kurunagala districts.

Over 20,000 detections had been carried out in these districts.

The Narcotics Unit of the Department had conducted 693 raids and 573 male and 89 female suspects were arrested. Of the 693 detections 261 were in connection with heroin and 401 were related to cannabis detections.