by Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY: President Mahinda Rajapaksa, directing
officials stop the issue of permits for liquour bars, ordered
that 'Mathata Thitha' policy be strictly adhered to in Sri
Lanka.
He was speaking to officials of the Excise
Department and the police at a conference to review the Kandy
Development Programme and arrangements for the SAARC leaders’
summit in Kandy.
The President told officials while doing away
with the issue of new licences for liquor bars, to prevent the
opening of bars with the licences already issued.
Legal action should be taken against any party
acting in contravention of the directions regardless of status,
party or colour, President Rajapaksa stressed.
In the case of tourist resorts, the tourists’
liquor could be served in the rooms but they should not be
permitted to run liquor bars. This is relevant to the tourist
hotels in close proximity to the Kandy sacred area, he said.
