Colombo, Apr 26 (AFP) Sri Lanka on today banned the sale of meat and liquor and ordered casinos to close on the Buddha's birthday in a move to appease the island's religious majority.

The restrictions, which come just days after the government shifted May Day celebrations in a sop to Buddhist monks, will extend to tourist hotels for the two-day Vesak festival starting Sunday.

"Meat and liquor sales at supermarkets and hotels will be banned during this period," the government said in a statement.

Casinos will be closed and gambling elsewhere also prohibited, the government said.

Bars are usually closed on Buddhist holidays but the decision to ban meat sales at supermarkets is a first and was broadly seen as a gesture to the island's powerful clergy.

It follows the government's surprise decision this month to delay May Day festivities by a week after Buddhist leaders complained the date clashed with Vesak celebrations.

It is the first time the holiday has been shifted from May 1 since Sri Lanka began celebrating the labour day festivities in 1956.

Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority nation of 21 million, celebrates 26 public holidays. The island's 1.5 million civil servants also enjoy another 45 days paid leave ever year.(AFP) AMS

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)