Liquor sales banned during Poya and polls

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Countrywide liquor sales will be banned for three days on Monday, August 3rd for the Nikini Full Moon Poya Day, and on Wednesday, August 5th and Thursday, August 6th for the General Election, by order of the Excise Department.   

NPP Kalutara District candidate Nalinda Jayatissa told a news conference that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should reveal his stance on these matters without his media stunts of going round the country and meeting people.  

“The President is expected to resolve matters of national concern and not perform media stunts,” he said. “The government vilified the MCC before the presidential election. Now, it is clear that the government is laying the ground work to sign the agreement soon after the election. We like to know the President’s stance on the MCC before the election and whether SOFA will be signed after the election. We also like to know whether the Trincomalee oil tanks will be taken over and whether the full ownership of the Eastern Terminal will be given to the Ports Authority. We will also like to know if the Mattala airport will be administered by the government. The government should reveal its stance on these matters before the end of the election campaigning on Sunday midnight.”  

Dr. Jayatissa said the government was continuing the same policies of the previous government and continuing from where the Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe government had stopped with regard to selling of state property and signing agreements.   

• The UNP seems to be an ideal supporter of the  Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe  may be happy that the present government is also continuing the projects  initiated by him