Mar 20, Colombo: The policy of the Sri Lankan government to prevent the promotion of alcohol and other intoxicating substances in the country has been questioned in parliament.

JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a special statement in parliament said that despite the "Mathata Thitha" policy promoted by the government, the manufacture of alcohol is a lucrative business in the country.

He said this while raising questions about the controversy that has surrounded the confiscation of two containers of illegally imported ethanol by the authorities.

The JVP MP noted that Sri Lanka has become the highest alcohol consuming country with a per capita alcohol consumption of 11.2 liters.

According to Dissanayake, political involvement in the manufacture of alcohol has also increased since it has become a very lucrative business.

Noting that 315 barrels of ethanol spirit found inside the two confiscated containers could not have been imported to the country without state patronage, Dissanayake explained that any ordinary citizen could not import such a consignment and that it could only be imported by a large scale businessman or a person with political powers.

Dissanayake added that there was several liquor manufacturers affiliated to the government and questioned why the two containers were not scanned at the port and detained at the port.