All liquor stores to be closed until further notice

COLOMBO (News1st): The government, on Tuesday, reversed the decision to permit liquor stores to be kept open when the curfew is lifted, amidst rising health concerns. Last week, the excise department announced that liquor stores could be kept open provided they abide by the curfew laws and social distancing regulations, as illicit liquor-related cases grew in the country. However, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol yesterday wrote to the President seeking to reverse the move until COVID-19 is completely brought under control. "We should really ask ourselves what risks we are taking in leaving people under lockdown in their homes with a substance that is harmful both in terms of their health and the effects of their behaviour on others including violence," the letter read. News1st had previously reported of a spike in domestic violence cases after curfew was imposed to stem the spread of the virus in late March. Dr Samadhi Rajapaksa, the chairman of the authority said that during times of lockdown, the consumption of alcohol can exacerbate health vulnerability along with mental health issues and violence. "When trying to eradicate a communicable disease from the country, we should not pave the way for increasing non-communicable diseases," Rajapaksa noted. Excise officials say the government is losing as much as Rs 15 billion monthly with the liquor industry suspending operations, as the country struggles in the economic front while battling the virus. Recently, the government slapped a temporary suspension on more than 100 products including liquor amidst a foreign exchange crisis in the south asian island. The Excise Department is losing a daily income of Rs 500 million for the benefit of the society. The government has closed down liquor stores for the well-being of the people despite knowing that 15 billion rupees can be earned by imposing excise taxes for a month