Only star-class foreigners can enjoy liquor during this Avurudu

4 April 2025 08:26 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 23 Bookmark

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Colombo, April 4 (Daily Mirror) - Only foreign tourists residing in star-class hotels are entitled to be served or to purchase alcoholic beverages during the two dry days of April 13–14, during this Sinhala and Tamil New Year, as ordered by the Department of Excise.

The Excise Department yesterday announced a ban on countrywide liquor sales, and all wine stores, taverns, and restaurants will remain shut on April 13 and 14 in line with the Sinhala and Tamil Aluth Avurudu festival.

However, this exempts any foreign tourist residing at Ceylon Tourist Board-approved hotels beyond the three-star class range and special boutique villas by order of the Commissioner General of Excise.

The public is encouraged to alert authorities to any instances of violations of the Excise Ordinance by selling liquor during this period, via the Excise Hotline 1913, for swift action.

Comments - 23

maha Friday, 04 April 2025 09:03 PM

this is announcement to the public for early store

1 26

MAHA, WE THE PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN OF THE BAN ON SERVING AND OR SELLING LIQUOR AND IS NOTHING NEW. Saturday, 05 April 2025 01:00 AM

MAHA, you comment makes NO SENSE, the whole COUNTRY knows that these restrictions are the usual ban and closures of places serving liquor. As for hotels etc, they can purchase their liquor earlier and consume it in their rooms and the public can do the same and consume liquor in their houses or anyone else's home and has been the practice from the year DOT.

0 3

The best avurudu season since gaining independence! Friday, 04 April 2025 09:19 PM

This country is now becoming a Marxist nation with draconian rules. At this rate, there will be controls over what we eat and drink at home in the near future and even on matters such as going to the loo!

43 31

WHAT A STUPID RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME RULES DURING THE NEW YEAR AND WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE BUY THEIR LIQUOR IN ADVANCE IF THEY ARE HAVING ANY CELEBRATIONS AND INVITING GUEST. Saturday, 05 April 2025 01:09 AM

NO YOU ARE WRONG, THIS HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE FROM GAINING INDEPENDENCE. IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE NEW YEAR SIMPLY GET ALL THE BOOZE YOU CAN CONSUME PRIOR TO THE BAN, SIMPLE AS ABC. JUST BECAUSE THIS THERE IS A BAN ON THE SALE AND SERVING LIQUOR DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOME CELEBRATING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS PURCHASE IN ADVANCE AND CONSUME ON THE BANNED DAYS.

0 6

Walter Rozairo Saturday, 05 April 2025 05:19 AM

This gas nothing to do with the NPP Government. This is an existing law of the previous governments. Know your facts before you make silly comments

1 7

Sokrates Saturday, 05 April 2025 08:30 AM

In almost all communist countries there is enough cheap alcohol to buy EVERY day to keep the population calm and distract them from their daily problems. In Sri Lanka, the ban on alcohol no longer has anything to do with public holidays, especially religious ones. The only reason for not abolishing the Colonial Excise Act is corruption.

1 5

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 04 April 2025 09:37 PM

There is no logic in banning sales during the holiday 0eriod because people buy these in advance So the only party thar benefit is the Kassippu dealers

1 44

THESE RULES AND BANS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, SO TIME TO GET OVER IT AND PURCHASE IN ADVANCE. Saturday, 05 April 2025 01:13 AM

TISSA YOU ARE WRONG, THIS BAN AND CLOSURES HAS BEEN A PRACTICE. IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE WANT TO DRINK LIQUOR ON THOSE BANNED DAYS, GO AND PURCHASE IT IN ADVANCE AND CONSUME IT NO OBJECTIONS. WHAT IS YOUR ISSUE DO YOU NOW KNOW THAT THESE BANS HAVE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG!!.

3 3

Jude Friday, 04 April 2025 09:59 PM

Most can't afford!! Will have to settle for kassippu, yeah.

7 22

Amal Friday, 04 April 2025 11:17 PM

People anyway purchase booze early... But this will help Bar owners and workers to enjoy Avurudu with family and friends....!

0 3

Gt Saturday, 05 April 2025 01:10 AM

Only in sri lanka are locals and tourists treated differently, do you think you'd get special treatment in their countries?

1 3

Rajasingha Saturday, 05 April 2025 02:08 AM

The idea is so people can stock up before, but what's this stone age logic. Let people buy whatever they want ffs. Government does not need to act like God.

0 3

Herman Perera Saturday, 05 April 2025 04:11 AM

New Year is a time for Celebration, Closing Liqour shops make no sense.

0 6

May be you can save lives? Good. Saturday, 05 April 2025 05:03 AM

Very strange. I have seen in the past that Sinhala Tamil New Year and X'mas to New Year - two occasions, to drink to your hearts' content. Working in OPD at the General Hospital in the past, I have seen a serge in deaths through accidents and violence. Caused by even dear ones who did not mean to, but could not avoid such as falling from upstairs while dancing in a drunken frenzy. This happened in Mt. Lavinia. May be you can save lives? Good. But no thrill.

0 1

Rajiv De Silva Saturday, 05 April 2025 06:25 AM

Educate the public of pros and cons of consuming alchohol rather than baning the consumption of alcohol during holidays. Move forwrd guys, no point in still living in old stone age.

0 6

jothika Saturday, 05 April 2025 07:24 AM

wait avurudu is harvest festival right? so we dont want drunk farmers harvesting? what does this have to do with foreigners and liquor? this shows some weakness in the so called beliefs, no self control have to put a nation wide ban..its 2025 and still something not right.

0 2

Ignatius Saturday, 05 April 2025 07:26 AM

This is CRAZY. I lived in Sri Lanka 40 years ago. During these "banned" days - I had an extra drink because it was mostly a HOLIDAY. Our village (JAELA) Kassippu dealer had a bumper sale.

0 5

melville perera Saturday, 05 April 2025 07:53 AM

why star class foreigners - are the non star class foreigners ALIENS as we locals are referred to in visa applications by some countries

0 2

Chryshan Saturday, 05 April 2025 08:17 AM

Only the low income tourist and poor get effected. Others will buy and stock at their homes. High end tourist buy from start class hotels. Why don't they allow Liquor sales everyday during the time allowed. Otherwise how to develop tourism.

0 3

Sambo Saturday, 05 April 2025 08:28 AM

Why should the public cut their own throats. These are the two days with the most sales although the liquor shops are closed.

0 2

VJ Saturday, 05 April 2025 10:47 AM

Probably the excise department wants to make sure the wine shop workers are given the opportunity to celebrate the festival just like their customers. This two day closure is in no way stopping people consuming alcohol. Why so mush of fuss?

0 3

Curious Being Saturday, 05 April 2025 01:32 PM

Then we are all star class foreigners in that case, Oh yeah :D

0 0

John W Saturday, 05 April 2025 10:11 PM

Got to say first time I visited Sri Lanka in 2010 and all 5 visits since alcohol sales were banned on religious holidays something we are not used to in England it has nothing to do with your Govt. I was always happy to abstain with no complaints out of respect for your culture. Just be glad the crooks

0 0

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