Homagama in the Colombo District has been a liquor free village for a long time. Recently, the first ever foreign liquor store was opened in Pitipana, Homagama, just a few metres away from the Buddha statue built at Pitipana junction. It is also not far from the military temple in Panagoda, which was built with the labour and financial donations of the soldiers who saved this country at the risk of their lives. The Bodhirajaramaya, one of the major temples in the area, is also located nearby.
Anagarika Dharmapala
It is still not known as to who or what authority gave permission to open this liquor tavern in these sacred precincts. The heinous sin they have committed will be a disgrace to the nation and society. Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Chairman of the Homagama Development Committee, has spearheaded rapid development in the Pitipana area. He has strongly opposed the opening of liquor stores, even beer stalls, in this area.
Important institutions
The Pali and Buddhist University, which imparts Dharma knowledge to thousands of students, the Panagoda Bodhirajarama Viharaya, Mahinda Rajapaksa Vidyalaya, Homagama, which has the highest number of school students in South Asia, the NSBM Green University, which provides technical education to over 4,000 university students, Faculty of Technology, Jayewardenepura University, Department of Measurements and Standardization and the Telecom Data Centre are located in the vicinity of Homagama and Pitipana. There are thousands of students in Homagama. They come from different villages and addiction to alcohol could ruin their lives.
The moral power of the community is in the hands of the people of Homagama. Former Minister Gamani Jayasuriya openly opposed the granting of bar permits in the country. Gamani Jayasuriya’s father was Bernard Jayasuriya, who was a councillor for Avissawella. Bernard Jayasuriya was married to a daughter of Edmond Hewawitharana, a brother of Anagarika Dharmapala, who was the pioneer of temperance education in this country. After Gamani Jayasuriya became the MP for the area, the first thing he did was to close down the liquor shops, remove the cattle slaughterhouses and close down the beef shops. Jayasuriya later held several ministerial positions. During his tenure, until he resigned over the signing of the Indo-Lanka Agreement in 1987, no liquor bar was permitted to be opened in the Homagama Seat. He also never asked for bar permits as a Government Minister, unlike many others.
Gamani Jayasuriya
Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena
Last week, we heard the alarming news that a liquor store has been opened in this town. Alcohol has been the main cause of chaos and domestic violence in this country. Some time ago, a survey conducted by the Sri Lanka Police revealed that 50 percent of the minor complaints received by the police were related to alcohol consumption, legal or illegal.
We went to Pitipana, Homagama to find out more about this liquor shop. After worshipping the Aukana Buddha statue which was consecrated under the auspices of Dr. Gunawardena at Pitipana junction, we came to the place where this bar is located to clarify some facts from their side as well. There were three young men selling alcohol at the air-conditioned shop. Liquor bottles were arranged neatly in rows. It was around 4 p.m. when we got there. There were several customers at the shop. We engaged in casual conversation with the sales person and inquired whether there was owner or manager was around, but he said the manager and owner were away. All attempts to get an address or phone number of the manager/owner failed. Coincidentally, on the very same day that we went to Pitipana to find out about the liquor store, protests were launched against it. The protest was initiated by Dr. Gunawardena, an ardent anti-alcohol advocate.
Evil of alcohol
“If no action is taken to remove the liquor store that has been established in Pitipana, I will launch a campaign for its removal regardless of what happens to my Ministerial and parliamentary positions. We must protect the student and residents of Homagama and Pitipana from this evil of alcohol.
We will not stop these protests until the liquor store is removed. We will also not let anyone open any other liquor outlet in the Homagama area,” Minister Dr. Gunawardena said.
We are totally against the opening of bars in this Buddhist town
Chairman of Homagama Education Protection Board, Ven. Madowita Vajirabuddhi Thera
“The Homagama temperance policy dates back to the time of Minister Gamani Jayasuriya. Homagama is a Buddhist town. Minister Jayasuriya was a grandson of Anagarika Dharmapala. At that time, Dharmapala had said that anyone who drinks alcohol or eats beef is a coward. Alcohol is a factor that leads to the decline of the family. For some time now, bars have been sprouting up in the foothills around Homagama. They also want to set up a bar/liquor store in the Meegoda Economic Centre. As the Maha Sangha of the area, we are totally against the opening of a liquor store in a Buddhist town like Homagama. The Excise Commissioner should take immediate action to close this tavern.”
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Homagama residents appreciated policy of temperance
University of Sri Jayewardenepura Senior Professor, Ven. Magammana Pannananda Thera
“Homagama is the hometown of Minister Gamani Jayasuriya. It is a Buddhist city. When Minister Jayasuriya was there, Homagama did not have beef stalls or liqour shops. Dr. Bandula Gunawardena now leads the temperance movement in this area. The Pali and Buddhist University is very close to the newly built Pitipana liquor store. How many more universities, major schools, government institutions are there around the area? Homagama is the area with the highest percentage of Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Throughout history, the Homagama people have lived according to the temperance policy of Anagarika Dharmapala with Buddhist discipline.
We strongly protest against this liquor outlet. It is possible that a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) intent on destroying the Sinhala Buddhist community is behind the opening of this liquor outlet. We condemn this with contempt. We are telling the people of Homagama not to commit this crime. On behalf of the pious people of the area, we request that this liquor licence be revoked immediately.”
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Shut this liqour store down
Pitipana Uttararama Purana Vihara Chief Incumbent, Ven. Maduluwawe Dhammika Thera
“Minister Gamani Jayasuriya closed down all the beef shops and liquor bars in the Homagama Constituency, which is 98 percent Sinhala Buddhist.
It was only recently that they tried to open this bar. There are educational institutions such as national schools, universities and Dhamma schools around this newly opened bar. We urge the rulers, please close this Pitipana bar as soon as possible.”
