News

Bhikkhus urge Govt. to withdraw new licenses granted to manufacture liquor

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/26

Text and Pic By Prageeth Janaka

A group of monks led by Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero, the Sangha Nayaka of the Dakshina Lanka Chapter of the Ramanya Nikaaya on Thursday demanded the Government to withdraw its approval to open three new distilleries.

Addressing a press conference at Embilipitiya, Ven Sobitha Thero said that by endorsing such decisions, the Cabinet of Ministers is encouraging a drunken culture in the country that will lead to the breakdown of social values.

Ven Sobitha Thero questioned the purpose behind the Government’s interest to grant such licences and a drunken culture in the country, and alleged that it was reminiscent of the colonial strategy to distract the public from real issues of governance and failure.

“Today the people are struggling to eat and drink, there is no fuel and adequate foreign exchange, and the economy is in tatters. In such a situation, why is the Finance Ministry so keen to grant licenses for alcohol production? How can you solve people’s problems with alcohol,” he queried.

He added that such actions were against the principles of Buddhism and added that the World Health Organization too had pointed out that alcohol consumption grows at around 95% in Sri Lanka versus the global average of 55%.

Ven Sobitha Thero said that several new liquor licenses are to be issued by the Finance Ministry considering fresh applications submitted by local firms including two licensed liquor companies. At present there were 24 licensed companies are continuing the liquor production in the country and if the number of licence holders is increased then the Sri Lanka will have to face socio-economic and cultural problems. Even at present the country’s liquor production is more than the demand and increasing the number of licencees will bring disastrous affects, during the third wave of the pandemic.

Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana recently told Parliament that Ministry of Finance had considered completing the ground work to process the licence applications for these liquor giants.

According to statistics tabled by the SJB MP in the House, Sri Lanka has about 24 licence holders producing liquor. However, the data showed that only five of these 24 companies are contributing 95% to the tax income generated from the country’s entire liquor industry.

The rest of the 19 producers either do not make ample profits or evade paying tax by not maintaining proper books.

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News

SAARC journalists meet in New Delhi

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

President of SJF Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Dr Alok Kumar Mishra Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities

Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.

Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.

A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.

The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.

News

Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.

The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.

The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.

During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.

The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.