The Court of Appeal yesterday (24) ordered to send notices to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, the Excise Commissioner General, the Finance Ministry Secretary and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman to present their facts to the court on the 13th over allegedly violating beer licensing rules.

Court of Appeal President Judge Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice M.A.R. Marikkar made the order after hearing two writ petitions filed by the Sri Lanka Bar Owners’ Association and two Bar owners seeking an order to invalidate the soft liquor licenses (beer licenses) issued to areas outside tourist zones.

President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, who appeared for the petitioners, told the court that licenses for the sale of beer or other liquor should be issued following the 100-meter regulation. According to this regulation, liquor licenses should be issued to restaurants or bars situated 100 meters away from schools and places of worship. He said that it is illegal to issue liquor sales licenses in violation of that regulation by citing tourism promotion or any other reason.

The President’s Counsel further told the court that the interim restraining order issued by the court after considering the submissions of all the parties, was removed after considering a petition submitted by the Attorney General’s Department without following the proper procedure. He said that this move of the Attorney General was flawed.

The Judge-Bench fixed November 13 for the hearing of the petitions.

Lawyers Anjana Ratnasiri, Manujaya De Silva, Rukshan Senadheera, President’s Counsels Saliya Peiris and Sanjeewa Jayawardena appeared for the petitioners while Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka De Silva appeared for the respondents including the Attorney General.