E-Malt.com News article: Sri Lanka: Court of Appeal to hear challenge over use of rice, sugar in beer production

Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal has fixed for October 2 a writ petition challenging the alleged use of rice and sugar as primary raw materials in beer production, allowing the respondents to file their objections before the matter is taken up again, the Daily News reported on July 31.

The petition was considered by a bench comprising Justices R. Gurusinghe and A. Prema Shankar.

Counsel representing several liquor manufacturing companies named as respondents requested the Court to grant a date to file objections to the petition.

The Court accordingly granted permission for the respondents to file their objections and directed that the petition be called on October 2.

The petition has been filed by a group of licensed liquor sellers against the Commissioner General of Excise and relevant officials, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police, among others.

They have therefore sought an order restraining the respondents, including the Commissioner General of Excise, from granting approval for the use of rice and sugar as primary raw materials in beer production.

The petitioners claim that Section 2 of the Excise Ordinance defines beer as a fermented alcoholic beverage made from malt. They allege that information has emerged that several manufacturers are using rice and sugar as the primary raw materials in the production of beer.

According to the petitioners, such a practice is inconsistent with the provisions of the Excise Ordinance. They further contend that the use of rice for beer production could adversely affect the national economy,

particularly as the Government is providing substantial subsidies from public funds to support rice production.

The petitioners argue that diverting rice for commercial industries such as beer manufacturing could also undermine the country’s objective of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.


02 August, 2026