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Time to rethink liquor sale on Poya Days: Mangala

23 June 2017 10:15 am - 30     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The time has come for the country to rethink banning of liquor sales on Poya Days, Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during a debate on the notifications made under Excise Ordinance in the House, the Minister said liquor sales were higher on Poya Days than the ordinary days.

"Liquor shop owners take stocks to their residences and sell them at a price which is hundred percent higher than normal," he said adding that people purchased liquor early, usually before the Poya Days, as they were fully aware that shops would to be closed.

 

 

He said the situation had become the same on the Christmas Day as well.

Further, the Minister said beer and wine should be available at an affordable price so that people would be discouraged from going for hard liquor.

“Let’s try and get rid of outdated ideologies,” he added while pointing out that the suggestions he had come out with were his personal opinions. (By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)


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  Comments - 30

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  • Nimal Friday, 23 June 2017 01:28 PM

    If you aware that they sell on poya days then give that information to police and forward them to courts without bow down to them

    kumaran Friday, 30 June 2017 01:37 AM

    Careful! You may become unpopular with the President!!

    s.perera Sunday, 25 June 2017 01:00 PM

    Great idea sir.kindly reduce the price as well.Then low income gentlemen can buy a bottle and some food for kids.

    hans perlee Saturday, 24 June 2017 10:17 PM

    not done away with it in all countries. There are still places where you can't buy alcohol on Sunday

    Namal Saturday, 24 June 2017 02:02 PM

    The whole idea of banning liquor on poya day is for people to learn to discipline themselves, and not having liquor at least on the poya day.

    JAN Friday, 23 June 2017 08:11 PM

    All local liquor is Highly priced please Reduce all liquor Beer prices to public via DM Android App

    Patriot Friday, 23 June 2017 07:53 PM

    don't have to re-think, make a 'law'...only talking but nothing doing.

    Sincere Friday, 23 June 2017 06:39 PM

    Ooh my....... I never thought the highest income from liquor comes on days when taverns are closed!

    nick Friday, 23 June 2017 06:04 PM

    woow the way we going next will be same sex marriage certainly our culture is going on a awol via DM Android App

    DillonDP Friday, 23 June 2017 06:04 PM

    well just cause you drink wine and beer dont focus on those two items..... anyhow i voted yes there should be liquor sale all 365 days

    Sonali Friday, 23 June 2017 05:43 PM

    Finally someone with sense has taken a bold decision. Hope this will drum some sense to the rest regarding similar issues.

    Roshan Corera Friday, 23 June 2017 04:21 PM

    Dont no about liquor but please dont close cinema's on poya days

    Vernon Friday, 23 June 2017 01:48 PM

    It is really absurd to ban liquor sales only on poya dates. If it is bad on poya days, it should be bad for all days. It is not appropriate for the government to enforce any religious beliefs or ideologies, other than to encourage the practicing of all religions, which basically encourages and maintains some civic order. .

    Krishni Friday, 23 June 2017 01:39 PM

    Yaaaaaaaay finally a sensible decision!! Yeah the ban on christmas day is really embarassing!! The rest of the world, including christian countries drink wine on the 25th of Dec and through and us being a buddhist country, its banned!! so stupid!!

    BUSHEL Friday, 23 June 2017 01:37 PM

    make him chairman of SAITM

    Channa Friday, 23 June 2017 10:34 AM

    Oh don't open liquor shops on poya days. There will be less revenue to the country. Now people stock more liquor than we require on the prepoya day.

    ANTON Friday, 23 June 2017 01:18 PM

    SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO ROYALISTS , .....

    willows Friday, 23 June 2017 01:17 PM

    One of the best ministers in this government, you did well in every time Sir, keep up the good work

    sachith Friday, 23 June 2017 01:02 PM

    Lord Buddha never said, sins will be double if you do prohibited thing on poya day. But purohitha people who know Buddhism better than Buddha will protests against this.

    Dinesh Friday, 23 June 2017 12:58 PM

    Well Said..

    alex Friday, 23 June 2017 12:54 PM

    that is very sensible and very courageous of Mangala to state this, knowing very well the Sinhala Buddhist backlash expected form hard core fanatics.Actually he is correct. Go by example. There were Christian majority countries who some time back banned liquor sales on Sundays as they go to Church. Now they have done away with it and nobody lost anything.

    Mater truth Friday, 23 June 2017 12:54 PM

    What a say,this the first time a Minister has spoken the truth rather than hiding the happenings.Go ahead Minister of Finance.

    alexander Friday, 23 June 2017 12:54 PM

    that is very sensible and very courageous of Mangala to state this, knowing very well the Sinhala Buddhist backlash expected form hard core fanatics.Actually he is correct. Go by example. There were Christian majority countries who some time back banned liquor sales on Sundays as they go to Church. Now they have done away with it and nobody lost anything.

    gamini Friday, 23 June 2017 12:51 PM

    are you dreaming man, this is SL

    Mason Friday, 23 June 2017 12:37 PM

    Very practical thinking Mr. Minister. The ban on Poya days was a political stunt. Those who wanted it bought it the day before. Those doing illicit sales earned more on that day. It is the poor man who suffered, who needed a tot after a hard day's work.Please do apply this to meat sales as well.The ban has not benefited, so to speak anyone.

    Dee Friday, 23 June 2017 12:08 PM

    Oh. Come on don't sell officially on poya days. We make quite a buck by marking up by 50%.

    ANTON Friday, 23 June 2017 11:02 AM

    SHALL WE MAKE HIM THE PRESIDENT OF SRILANKA....BECAUSE HE IS A FEARLESS DECISION MAKER.

    Joseph Friday, 23 June 2017 10:52 AM

    Well said Sir,

    hans perlee Friday, 23 June 2017 10:46 AM

    So it is known that alcohol is sold at prices 100% higher then normal befor Poya day, you also know the people doing it so why not take action? Confiscate the stock, very highfine and it will not happen again.

    Snowy Friday, 23 June 2017 10:39 AM

    At last a sensible minister in Sri Lanka government.


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