Religious and civil society leaders, teachers, and parents in Ambanpola staged a protest last week against plans to open a liquor shop in Ambanpola town, near two schools, two Sunday Dhamma schools, and two temples.

Demonstrators registering their protest with the Divisional Secretary

Protesters marched through the town and met the Divisional Secretary, demanding that the proposed liquor shop be denied permission because the site earmarked for its construction is just 100 metres away from the schools.

Previously, the Divisional Secretary had withheld approval for a liquor shop at the same location due to heavy public protests. The latest attempt to establish the shop is reportedly backed by a politician from the ruling party, according to the protesters.

Ven Bakmeewewa Sagara Thera, Secretary of the Ambanpola Bhikkhu Balamandalaya, stated that he had written to both the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Elections Commission regarding the planned opening of the liquor shop during the election period. Parents are considering staging a massive protest campaign, including potentially keeping their children out of schools and Sunday Dhamma schools, if the authorities proceed with the project. The liquor shop is planned to be located just 100 meters from Vishwadeepani National School and Ambanpola Primary School. Within a 100-meter radius of the proposed site are two temples: Sri Bodhiraja and Sri Bodhi Rajaramaya. “As such, we oppose this move,” Sagara Thera said.