Geethanath Cassilingham requests Prez to close down unnecessary liquor shops in North

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politburo member Geethanath Cassilingham requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in writing to review the licences issued for liquor shops in the Northern Province and potentially close down unnecessary liquor establishments to protect the well-being of our communities, especially the youth.

He said, that along the route from Paranthan Junction to Iranamadu Junction, there has been a significant emergence of these establishments in recent years.

“I want to draw your attention that it has been brought to my notice that many of these liquor licences had been issued to gain the support of certain politicians, during the last Ranil Wickremesinghe regime.

The emergence of such establishments in recent years has severely disrupted the lives of the people on a daily basis.

The majority of the population consists of daily wage earners, and the proliferation of liquor shops is detrimental to their livelihoods. Many families are struggling, and I have personally spoken with them about the impact on their income. I kindly request your intervention in this matter to review and potentially close down unnecessary liquor establishments to protect the well-being of our communities, especially the youth. After all, these licences were issued rapidly only for political gains, to benefit only certain politicians in the area, and not considering the negative impacts it would cause on the citizens. I kindly request you, Your Excellency, to address this issue at your earliest and investigate why these licences were issued and obtained by these politicians, with no benefit to the communities,” he wrote.