By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Government is trying to make the countrymen drunkards by issuing more and more mass scale liquor production licenses thus making them forget the prevailing burning issues, Omalpe Sobitha Thera yesterday said.   
The Thera said the moves by the Ministry of Finance to direct the Department of Excise to issue three mass scale liquor manufacturing licenses to certain chosen private sector individuals or companies could promote an excessive drinking culture in the country.   

Addressing a media briefing in Embilipitiya yesterday Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya’s Dakshina Lanka Sanganayake Omalpe Sobitha Thera said it is a despicable move by the government to divert the minds of the people from the burning issues by promoting alcoholism in the society.   

“Today there is insufficient food in the country for the people to consume, no gas or fuel available, no foreign currency to continue the essential imports and the national economy is on the verge of collapsing. So it is questionable as to why the Finance Ministry is authorizing such large scale liquor production licenses amidst this situation,” Sobitha Thera questioned.   

He further said that the even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognized Sri Lanka as a country where the trending phase of hard liquor consumption has increased by 95% compared to other similar countries, which do so only by 55%.