Sri Lanka: Tougher Rules on Tobacco Use

Source from:  Ceylon Daily News 05/29/2013

No one will be able to stop introducing rules and regulations to strengthen the government's policy on controlling the use of tobacco and alcohol, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

He said so at a celebration to mark the World No Tobacco Day at BMICH recently.

Minister Sirisena said at the moment, 20 percent of hospital beds in the country are crowded with patients fallen sick due to the use of tobacco and alcohol while 72 percent of illnesses in the country are Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which are mainly related to the use of tobacco and alcohol.

Twenty Sri Lankans die daily due to heart attacks and 600 hospitalized for heart treatment. The use of tobacco and alcohol leads to many NCDs such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, strokes etc, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa introduced laws to control the use of tobacco and alcohol within one year of his appointment, he added.

Minister Sirisena said he had not accepted any gifts or presents from those who promote and sell tobacco and alcohol.

"Such devils will never get my approval through gifts and presents. I will never give into them, betray my policies or the policies of the government," he stressed.

"I am carrying out a public duty and will stand for it. I thank all those who support me. But raising awareness among the public, especially schoolchildren gives better results than implementing tough laws. Laws alone cannot achieve good results," Minister Sirisena said.

Attorney General Palitha Fernando said the law protects people and do not to harass them. Therefore the public should support to implement the law. The law enforcement officers do their best to implement the law. Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Palitha Mahipala and others also spoke. Enditem