Every licensed liquor outlet in Sri Lanka will remain closed on Saturday, 3 October, for World Temperance Day, the Excise Department has announced.
The closure applies to all licensed liquor outlets islandwide, the Daily Mirror reported. Hiru News carried the same announcement from the Excise Department.
What the day marks
World Temperance Day is observed on 3 October each year. Both outlets describe its purpose as raising public awareness of the temperance movement, encouraging moderation, and promoting abstention from alcohol.
The observance also draws attention to the health and social harms associated with heavy drinking. Global health estimates cited in both reports link alcohol consumption to close to three million deaths worldwide each year.
A recurring closure
Sri Lanka closes licensed liquor outlets on a set of designated days each year, including Poya days and certain public observances. The Excise Department issues the directive to licence holders ahead of each closure.
Neither report mentioned penalties for outlets that fail to comply, or any exemption for licensed hotels and tourist establishments, which are treated separately under some past closure orders.