Will pay no heed to any political pressure: Env. Min.

Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera further responding to his recent remarks on banning the pocket size liquor bottles said yesterday that no political pressure or influence could stop him from taking actions.

Responding to the journalists at an environmental event held at the BMICH, the minister said that he and the government would take certain decisions considering only the wellbeing of the countrymen.

“We act on the wellbeing of the citizens of this country and take certain tough decisions and when doing so we

will not pay heed to any other political or third pressure,” Minister Amaraweera said. According to a World Health Organization report on Sri Lanka ‘Casual Model of Alcohol Consumption and Health Outcome’, the country’s hard liquor consumption intensity is 29% and the ‘Heavy Episodic Drinking’ capacity from the entire alcohol consumers is 9%.

Compared to the statistics provided by the Department of Excise, the consumption of quarter size hard liquor bottles in Sri Lanka has increased by 300% during the span of ten years from 2009 to 2019. The minister further said that it was the duty of the Excise Department to prohibit this pocket size bottle, which is hazardous to the health as the consumers would “guzzle it down” in no time for quick intoxication and then dump the empties into the environment causing pollution. (KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA)