It is said that the measure is introduced to prevent illegally mixed alcohol products entering the market while evading the high taxes imposed by the government.

Cabinet approval was granted for this label on Nov. 05 after the proposal was submitted by Finance minister Ravi Karunanayake.

The printing of the label is to be given to a company printing such security labels and it is planned to charge the alcohol companies Rs. 04 - 06 per label.

Prices further increase
However, a label will cost the printing company only 90 cents, field sources say. Therefore, the printing company will obtain nearly Rs. 05 in profits, per label.

Accordingly, the price of alcohol products could rise further in the near future, reliable sources add.

2 ministers
However, there are only a few government registered companies in Sri Lanka which are capable of printing such a label.

Two of such companies have links with two prominent ministers, reports add.

The monthly production of alcohol in Sri lanka is over 10 million. If the printing company obtains a profit of Rs. 03 per bottle, they would have a monthly income of over Rs. 30 million from this order alone.

Win-Win for ministers
However, field sources say that although this labelling project holds no income for the government, it would however generously fill the pockets of the ministers involved.