Speaking to the media after a meeting with distillery manufacturers, he insisted that despite the challenges faced by the companies, extended time had already been given for payment.“The total unpaid taxes for the financial year 2023/24 amount to around Rs. 1.8 billion.

The department has a target of Rs. 323 billion for the year, but only Rs. 162 billion has been collected so far,” he said, adding that this year’s target is Rs. 53 billion higher than last year.

The move to collect outstanding taxes comes after the Committee on Ways and Means expressed dissatisfaction in July 2024 with the Excise Department’s failure to act on recommendations to collect Rs. 1.1 billion in taxes from liquor manufactures. Despite receiving instructions on 24 April to collect arrears by 30 June, the Department had yet to take action.