29 January 2019 06:50 am
Dissanayake, who visited the Seevali Madhya Vidyalaya unannounced, in the midst of various programmes coinciding with the Prevention of Narcotics Week, made this revelation.
He also requested the school children to present any proposals or any allegations regarding this Narcotics Prevention Week.
One of the students said that it was an issue when the Government was conducting awareness programmes but continued to issue licenses to politicians to open and maintain liquor outlets, which was questionable.
Another student queried that ignoring the orders made by the Executive of the country was assisting in the spreading of drugs. He questioned why this executive power was not used to control this menace.
In reply, the Governor said that if the politicians stopped the sale of liquor, 90 % of these liquor outlets could be closed.
He said that he believed the direct and indirect interference by the political authorities on the liquor sale business should be stopped forthwith.
“The income derived from the sale of liquor is negligible when compared with the costs involved in solving the social and cultural issues that have resulted. This expenditure is creating a severe dent in economic, social, cultural and moral activities that is having a severe impact on the development of the country,” he said. (Ajithlal Shantha Udaya)