Govt. issues 538 soft alcohol licenses to boost tourism

Published

3 years ago

2023/09/10

(Economynext)The Government has issued 538 soft alcohol licenses under regulations started in 2022 to support the tourism sector, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

“Under a gazette notification in 2022 on a request by the tourism industry to promote tourism, the government began issuing soft liquor licenses,” Minister Siyambalapitiya told parliament.

“538 soft liquor licenses were issued after that. Anyone with a tourist permit was able to apply for this license for their restaurant.”

According to a World Health Organization report, since 2004 Sri Lanka’s illegal alcohol sales have gone up by 500 percent, compared to 50 percent legal sales, he said.

Sri Lanka has high taxes on legal alcohol which promote bootlegging.

“The government at no point promotes liquor usage,” Siyambalapitiya said. “The best example of this is that we tax close to 75 percent of the price of a bottle.

“But the government has to follow policies that promote tourism.”

He was responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on issuing liquor licenses to vendors in proximity to schools.

“We have to ensure that these permits are issued to vendors in appropriate locations,” Siyambalapitiya said.

“This becomes an issue in non-tourist areas. Based on public complaints we have cancelled three liquor licenses in such vicinities, and we will do so in the future too.”

The lack of access to legal alcohol outlets can also promote moonshine sales, Siyambalapitiya said.

Authorities were conducting a review to find the spread of legal outlets.

“For example in Nuwara Eliya there are 115 outlets which is one for 6,809 persons,” Siyambalapitya said.

“But in Mullaitivu there is one for 990,000 persons.”

A total of 4,570 permits of 25 different categories have been issued, Siyambalapitiya said.

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Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.