Health Sector Trade Union Alliance of Sri Lanka Fights against Tobacco Companies

Saman Rathnapriya, the Chairman of Health Services Trade Union Alliance, says the union is ready to fight against the tobacco companies over the laws to discourage the smoking.

Rathnapriya said that the Health Services Trade Union Alliance denied the Ceylon Tobacco's move to sue the Ministry of Health over imposing of laws to show graphic images to advise public on adverse effects of smoking.

Ceylon Tobacco, a unit of British American Tobacco, got a three-month time from courts to comply with the Ministry's new rules.

Rathnapriya said the union would take action to mobilize people against the Ceylon Tobacco. The protest actions against the tobacco companies would start with distribution of handbills to raise awareness in public and may extend to trade union action.

He demanded the tobacco companies to find alternate ways to earn profits instead of leading people to death for accumulating profits. Enditem