8 March 2019 11:19 am
UPFA MP Wimalaweera Dissanayake yesterday urged the government not to allow liquor manufacturing companies to sponsor annual big matches that are being held among schools.
Mr. Dissanayake said companies come forward to promote their liquor such as beer and are encouraging students to consume these products. He questioned as to what steps the government had taken to stop these social ills.
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam who responded said government never encouraged such sponsorships it could hardly do anything about these sponsorships.
MP Dissanayake then said the sentiment expressed by the Minister makes it clear that the government is not concerned about discouraging the consumption of liquor.
Minister Kariyawasam then responded saying the government had shown that it is concerned about liquor by increasing prices of liquor through the budget.