The Excise Department of Sri Lanka has reported a revenue increase of over 60% in the past three years, largely due to the introduction of security stickers on liquor bottles.
The programme, launched in January 2022 under the Ministry of Finance Sri Lanka, requires all locally produced liquor bottles to carry security stickers to ensure proper tax collection. Since its implementation, excise revenue has shown consistent growth, rising from Rs. 170 billion in 2022 to Rs. 178 billion in 2023 and Rs. 226 billion in 2024.
In the first nine months of 2025 alone, the department earned Rs. 190 billion, exceeding its target of Rs. 177 billion for that period. Former Excise Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Pemaratne noted that revenue performance surpassed 107% of the target, reflecting strong year-on-year growth.
Authorities also said that stricter enforcement helped improve compliance among liquor manufacturers, many of whom initially failed to adhere to the sticker requirement. The crackdown included inspections and raids to recover lost tax revenue.
The initiative has also improved the ability to identify counterfeit or substandard liquor while enhancing overall product quality. The security sticker system now covers 70 licensed manufacturers and 18 importers, with different sealing methods used depending on technological capabilities.
