Sri Lanka Buddhist monk party protests liquor storage in sacred city of Anuradhapura

Leader of Sri Lanka's Buddhist monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya Venerable Omalpe Sobhitha Thero says his party joins with the civil society protesting a move of a distillery company to built a massive liquor storage close to Anuradhapura sacred city.

He said the move is a blatant disregard of Buddhist values ahead of the 2600 Buddhist centenary.

The distillery company is currently building the storage complex.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya leader said that a massive protest against this move promoting alcohol would be held by the civil society, possibly on the next full moon day.

Anuradhapura Municipal Council says that the permission has been given to build a 2500 square feet storage complex.

However, the Excise Department says that the license has not been issued so far but the reports have been summoned from relevant authorities.