This is not tea. It is prohibited to sell alcohol on religious days in Sri Lanka . My beer is delivered discretely
I wasn’t aware when I entered the restaurant and my driver informed me that it would be unlikely I would get a beer on this particular day. Despite my protest, the waiter made me aware that it was not appropriate to serve alcohol but managed to find a way in order that could enjoy a cold beer, discreetly serving my beer in a large white teapot.
Tourists to Sri Lanka could call Poya, the full-moon day of the month, a dry day for non-availability of alcoholic beverages at hotels and restaurants. Wine stores, taverns and bars are closed on Poya days.
The Full Moon day is important to Buddhists all around the world, who have adopted the Lunar Calendar for their religious observances. Owing to the fullness of the moon as well as its effulgence, the full moon day is treated as the most auspicious of the four lunar phases occurring once every lunar month (29.5 days) and thus marked by a holiday.
In addition to the Saturdays and Sundays, each full moon day called Poya day is a public holiday in Sri Lanka. This has resulted in at least one additional holiday for each month unless the poya day falls in the weekend.