A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to the Commissioner General of Excise and other authorities not to grant approval for the use of rice and sugar as primary raw materials in the production of beer.
The petition, filed by a group of licensed liquor retailers, names the Commissioner General of Excise, officers of the Excise Department, officers of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police and several others as respondents.
Pointing out that ‘beer’ is defined as a fermented alcoholic beverage made from malt under Section 2 of the Excise Ordinance, the petitioners state that rice and sugar are currently used as the main raw materials in the production of beer, which is contrary to the provisions of the Excise Act. They also state that rice, which is produced with considerable public subsidies from state funds, is diverted to commercial industries such as beer production, thereby causing adverse effects on the national economy.