Diana happy about introduction of flexible opening hours for liquor shops, bars

13 November 2023 10:07 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - State Minister Diana Gamage welcomed the budget proposal to introduce a system of flexible opening hours for liquor shops and bars.

The proposal was made in the 2024 budget by the President to introduce flexible opening hours for bars and liquor shops in order to stop illicit liquor sales. It was also proposed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to revise related regulations for tourism promotional activities and a new policy for soft liquor licenses.

“I am happy about this proposal and it is about time that Sri Lanka has some kind of system to stop illicit liquor sales,” she said when contacted by the Daily Mirror.

Ms. Gamage, while highlighted the need for extending the closing time of liquor shops and bars, even proposed that they should be open 24 hours a day.

Comments - 14

Sivalingam Tuesday, 14 November 2023 12:20 AM

Implementation is the key, budget fairytales are useless.

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Ram Tuesday, 14 November 2023 02:49 AM

About tourism promotional activities I recall Diana's proposal to have licensed brothels. Diana, it is a good time to chat with your Boss and get that done so that it will give a boost to tourism and also to our local men

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Waco Tuesday, 14 November 2023 04:31 AM

Children will be starving at home.

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Sambo Tuesday, 14 November 2023 07:41 AM

Why not bring a suggestion to bring the liquor prices down as people can't afford the present price.

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SW Tuesday, 14 November 2023 09:25 AM

Good

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Jude Tuesday, 14 November 2023 09:42 AM

Constant craving for the limelight for the wrong reasons,!!

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Jude Tuesday, 14 November 2023 09:45 AM

There will be always කසිප්පු nothing can stop illicit liquor business, it's here to stay yeah.

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sam Tuesday, 14 November 2023 01:13 PM

Long hours for bars and licensed brothels similar to Reeperbahn in Germany will also bring in dollars and more employment

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Nirmal Tuesday, 14 November 2023 01:45 PM

Diana may not be a darling of many, but on this she has a point. SL always craves for tourists, but has nothing to offer them. Everyday promoting beaches and old ruins won't be enough. This is not 1950s. The world has moved. Look at how other competing South Asian counties do these things. If I'm a tourist in those countries, I want to have a beer at a reasonable price in the evening and late evening without being harrased by traditionalists and people with archaic beliefs. You can't have both ways for a bankrupt country.

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Sunil Silva Tuesday, 14 November 2023 05:20 PM

Vice Minister

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John Stewart Tuesday, 14 November 2023 07:00 PM

The tax on wine is now so high that even expats like myself are reducing our consumption. In Germany, I pay less than Rs,1,000 for a bottle of wine - no tax on alcohol in Germany. here I pay at least five times that amount. Most tourists I see now in restaurants are drinking beer only as a result. Less tax will see more sales.

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John Stewart Tuesday, 14 November 2023 07:03 PM

Less tax and, therefore cheaper prices would help to quell the drive to make illicit alcohol.

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Sambo Tuesday, 14 November 2023 08:28 PM

Bars and liquor shops can be opened at different times but we don't have the money to buy.

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Aravinda Monarawila Tuesday, 14 November 2023 08:57 PM

Ranil is trying to make Sri Lanka a Singapore only through liquor and gambling.

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