“The decision to reopen liquor shops has been taken without the consultation of the Health Ministry,” said Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath addressing the media, earlier today.
He told journalists, “there is neither a logic nor a basis to the decision under the prevailing circumstances of the pandemic” adding, “a decision of this nature could drag the prevailing COVID situation to a dreadful level.”
Later, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, requested the Finance Ministry and the relevant authorities to conduct a full scale investigation into the opening of liquor stores.
The health ministry recently dealt with the resignation of multiple experts including that of Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, who claimed that the vaccination program in Sri Lanka was not being implemented as per the recommendations of the experts.
Consequently, Dr Herath stressed that the authorities in charge must take these decisions seriously.
The decision comes as Sri Lanka's COVID death toll exceeds 12,000.
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