Medical professionals band together for ban on online alcohol sales

Another medical association, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS), has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to allow the online sale of alcohol. The AMS echo the sentiments of the Sri Lanka Medical Association which wrote to the Prime Minister that internet alcohol sales should not be greenlighted.   In their letter dated 16 June the AMS pointed out to the President that the annual economic cost of alcohol far outweighs the income from alcohol tax. ‘Implementing this unhealthy proposal at this critical juncture is bound to add more misery for Sri Lankan families already suffering from grave difficulties due to the pandemic. ‘ See below for the full statement of the Association of Medical Specialists: His Excellency Gotabhaya Rajapaksa President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat Colombo 01 Your Excellency, Issue of online sale of alcohol in Sri Lanka We, the Association of medical specialists fully endorse the contents of the letter sent to you by the Sri Lanka medical Association (SLMA) on 16th June 2021 regarding thisimportant matter. We wish to reiterate following important facts with regards to use of alcohol in Sri Lanka. 1. Please take all the possible measures to prevent violation of National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol act no. 26 of 2006 and Excise ordinance during this pandemic situation. 2. It has been shown beyond doubt that the annual economic cost of alcohol far outweighs the income from alcohol taxes in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we earnestly request you to refrain from implementing this unhealthy proposal at this critical juncture which is bound to add more misery to Sri Lankan families who are already suffering from grave difficulties due to the current pandemic.   Dr LakKumar Fernando Dr R Gnanasekeram President-AMS                                          General Secretary-AMS CC: 1. Ho