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Local liquor in demand
By Chris Kamalendran
A Cabinet minister's supporters had reportedly demanded tourist hotels in the district supply local liquor claiming they wanted to treat those who helped organise the recently concluded sports festival on the Kalutara Esplanade.

The supporters had reportedly called over at leading tourist hotels and demanded local liquor from the hotel management while the sports festival held from November 15 to 19 involving sportsmen and women from the north, east and the Kalutara district was in progress.

The men are said to have told the hotel managements that they had taken the trouble to organize the event to promote peace in the country by bringing sportsmen and women from the north and east for the first time and therefore those who worked for this should be looked after. They had allegedly collected liquor from hotels in Kalutara, Beruwala and Bentota.

One hotel manager told The Sunday Times he was forced to provide the liquor as he feared consequences if he refused. Some hotel managements had refused to provide the liquor and turned away the men. The minister concerned was not available for comment.

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