No ‘Maithri’ for 349 illegal bars

Wednesday, 18 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena presiding over the Drug Abuse Preventive Combined Committee Meeting, held recently at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo – Pic by Chandana Perera President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the new Commissioner General of Excise to cancel, with immediate effect, the liquor licenses issued to 349 liquor outlets that are operating in violation of the law. According to the Excise Ordnance Act it is illegal to establish liquor stores or bars within 500 metres of schools, temples and other places of worship. The President, having received sufficient complaints regarding their operations, has ordered to close the liquor shops operating in violation of the Excise Act from today. President Sirisena issued the directive participating in a meeting held Monday at the Presidential Secretariat with the members of the United Narcotics Prevention Operations Committee. The committee also focused attention on the progress made in the rehabilitation of drug addicts. The President has instructed the Attorney General to provide legal provisions necessary for rehabilitation measures. He also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to strictly enforce the law by rounding up drug dealers. President Sirisena instructed the officials of the Justice Ministry to take measures to turn the Boosa Prison, in to a centre for rehabilitating drug addicts by transferring the prisoners stationed there to another prison. Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the Defence Secretary, Security Forces Commanders, the IGP and other Government officials were also present.