Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian the Ven Athuraliye making a special statement in Parliamenton Wednesday (6) said that liquour was being sold at Super Markets and CWE outlets even in places close to temples or shrines of other religions. He requested the government to take action to cancel the liquour licences given to such "super markets" and the CWE shops.

Minister of Trade Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said that the liquor licences were given to CWE outlets after they were privatised and therefore these were no longer run by the government. However, the government would look into the matter though it was not possible to direct the CWE to close their liqour sale counters.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP) Colombo District : The CWE is not wholly privately owned. Still 60 percent of the shares are owned by the government.

Jeyaraj Ferandopulle : That may be so but the entire management of the CWE is now by the private owners according to the agreement reached under the former government,

Leader of the House, Maithripala Sirisena : Even within the holy city area of Polonnaruwa the CWE outlet was selling liquour under a licence given by the former government.