Excise revenue is on the decline as illicit liquor is fast spreading in the island, said additional excise commissioner general Kapila Kumarasinghe.
He has told BBC Sinhala Service that licensed distilleries have reduced their productions this year.
Production of the 180 ml bottle, the highest in demand, has been on the increase since 2020 and stood at 105.8 million bottles in 2022.
In January 2023, its production was 8.8 million, but decreased to 6.7 million in April.
Kumarasinghe said the excise department was having a staff shortage of 40 percent which adversely impacts on raids and tax collection.
