SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION tablished in 1887 “Wijerama House", No.6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, Stl Lanka President De Padna Gunataine 16" June 2021 President Elect roto Sanath. Dharmarane Hon Mahinda Rajapaksa eaeoeciate rast Reece Prime Minister and Minister of Finance PooGssorTadia Kavoatiike Ministry of Finance Vice Presidents Lotus Road Panama cuonto | Honorary Secretary Dear Sir, De Sonia Taser, ressvary asauanac Seca Allowing Internet Sales of Alcohol in Sri Lanka De AchalaBlaripa De Hitt Rech We wish to place on record our sincere appreciation for the steps taken by you De Seka Sie to disallow the sale of alcohol through retail outlets during this very difficult period. This is a major relief to many families who would have otherwise Honorary Treasurer suffered health, economic and other consequences of alcohol during the past Deske Ceesirers few weeks. Honorary Assistant Treasurer De SaithFairsinghe However, The Sri Lanka Medical Association is gravely concerned of the Public Relations Officer reported moves to allow internet sales of alcohol, which have been announced ‘De Kapo! Gorge by the Department of Excise at a Press Conference recently. Socal Secretaries We assume that the Department is aware that the National Authority on Se eaat came Tobacco and Alcohol Act (NATA) No. 26 of 2006 expressly prohibits advertising alcohol in the internet. Internet sales will also circumvent the age. Past President Representative ime and place restrictions mandated for alcohol sales in this county, through Denn Rose the Excise Ordinance and the NATA Act. Go-Editors (CM) Profesor A Panesar ‘The Department of Exercise has brought forward many unsubstantiated eee arguments to support this move, put forward previously by the alcohol industry Council Members against alcohol control measures in Sri Lanka. It is especially concerning that Be Chandan Apa the Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement of the Excise Department is eee claiming on television that the production and sale of illicit alcohol has gone up 1 Inka Kashar Goonertne within the last two weeks, to an extent that warrants the government to by-pass Profesor Sampath Guevara = a i 5 of ale ae ae the laws of the country and allow internet sales of alcohol. De Kapa ojaratne De Laas Jpn Such spokespersons for the department should provide conerete evidence for De Duohente Magee such claims, including the volumes, locations and the harm caused by such De Pramtha Nakapaa illicit alcohol during the past two weeks. They should also provide evidence on meee the volumes and where the claimed hoarding and illegal sales (selling Profesional Penna previously purchased alcohol at high prices) is taking place, "k ously purchased alcohol at high prices) is taking pl Dr Strmiha Peers Peer mire ic eg al We also wish to point out that the primary task of the Excise Department and its De Udaangaa Rares spokesperson is enforcing the laws related to alcohol in Sri Lanka, especially De Anuradha Rathoaate Pet ewrs meron the laws on illicit alcohol. If they know the extents and the locations of De PX Sibi Sandanowas production and the points of sale so precisely, they should be raiding such ‘DrSoni Senevnne pe cations ecuti ators, rather than issuing press statements De Seer locations and prosecuting the perpetrators, rather than issuing press statements De Astha Kotla Tnnipplanchchi helpful to the alcohol industry, and at the same time implying the Department De Bhaja § Wijk cannot enforce its own mandate, Profesor Nima Wikoon De DalshithaP Wickamusiaghe Profor N.C Weeeninghe “Tek sSa{O)LL 2693024 Fax +94(0)LL-2690002 ‘email offced@simalk website: wwwsimalkSRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Established in 1887 ‘Wijerama House", No, 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sti Lanka ‘You would also agree sir, that the groups that use illegal alcohol is very different from the groups consuming legal alcohol. Very few people who consume legal alcohol will tum to illegal alcohol when there is a scarcity or a price increase. ‘The Department of Excise also claims that large amounts of money is lost to the government as tax revenue during this period. This is only one sie of the story. Studies in Sri Lanka has shown that the annual economic costs of alcohol far outweighs the tax income. Therefore, each day that alcohol is not sold in Sri Lanka will bring net economic benefits to the government and the people. ‘Therefore, we eamestly request the government not to provide permission for internet sales of alcohol which will make matters worse for all Sri Lankans already suffering from many hardships due to Covid-19 pandemic. As it is well known that alcohol use is associated with poverty, violence against ‘women, injuries, suicides and many illnesses, providing easy access to alcohol will amplify these problems at a time which is difficult for both the government and the people. Thanking you, Yours sincerely, qe, Dr, Padma Gunaratne Prof. Narada Warnasuriya President, SLMA Chairperson SLMA Expert Committee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Ilicit Drugs Ce: His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Hon. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Sudarshinie Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Hon, Dr. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to H E the President Mr. Gamini Sedara Senarath, Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Health Dr, Asela Gunawardana, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health Dr, Samadhi Rajapaksa, Chairman, National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol