The Department of Excise announced that all liquor shops in the island will be closed on July 10, 11 and 12 in view of the Temperance Month announced by the Ministry of Health. 

A National Drug Prevention month was declared from July 09 to August 08, under the direction of President Maithripala Sirisena.
 
The Secretary to the President PB Abeykoon addressing a media conference held today (08) at the Government Information Department said the special programme will be launched at 10 am  on Thursday (09) at Ja-Ela Municipal Grounds under the patronage of President Sirisena and with the participation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
 
Parallel to the programme, on Thursday, a special drug prevention message from the President will be read out by school Principals in 10,300 schools countrywide.  
  
Also special drug prevention activities will be carried out within schools during the National Drug Prevention month.
  
In addition, drug prevention awareness programmes will be implemented for public who visit clinics in government hospitals throughout the drug prevention month. Furthermore, with the coordination of temples and religious places of worship many more drug prevention programs will be implemented with the aim of preventing drug use among Children and Adolescents.