Tobacco, alcohol legislation before House in April

Parliament Correspondents

KOTTE: The bill on the tobacco and alcohol authority will be presented in parliament in April, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.

He told Parliament that it would be submitted to the cabinet for its approval today. Minister de Silva said the supreme court has recommended amendments to the proposed legislation to bring it in line with the constitution.

This has been done following extensive consultations with the Attorney General.

He said the Government was committed to take action against the illicit brewing of liquor. He was replying to an oral question raised by Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera.

The Minister also said the IGP's report on the Kekunadura illicit liquor case, in which 16 people died, would be forwarded to the House next month.

In his question, Ven. Rathana Thera asked whether the Government was taking action to curb the easy availability to liquor even near schools and places of worship.

He said the 'Mahinda Chintana' has pledged to eradicate the drugs and alcohol menace, which has become a major social problem.