Govt. revises business hours of licensed liquor shops

The Excise Department yesterday announced that steps have been taken to revise the business hours of all licensed liquor shops in Sri Lanka.

The Department of Fiscal Policy of the Ministry of Finance has issued an extraordinary gazette notification listing the new business hours.

Accordingly, the retail liquor shops will be open from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. while foreign liquor bars should be opened at 11.00 a.m. and closed at 10.00 p.m.

These liquor outlets will have to be opened with the approval of the new liquor dealers not allowed in the area. They should be opened at 11.00 a.m. and closed at 10.00 p.m.

The gazette notification has revised the hours for other liquor shops with or without the Tourist Board approval and they will be open from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Bars at hotels with a Tourist Board license can be kept opened till 2.00 a.m. on the request of the licensee.

According to the gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, toddy taverns will be opened at 11.00 a.m. and closed at 9.00 p.m.