Sri Lanka: WHO Confers 2013 Global Anti Tobacco Award to Minister Sirisena

Source from:  NEWS.LK 09/04/2013

The World Health Organization has conferred the global award to mark the 2013 Anti Tobacco Day to the Minister of Health Maithreepala Sirisena.  The award will be presented to the Minister today by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at an event at the BMICH to felicitate the Minister.

The World Health Organization conferred this award annually to academia and other persons representing various sectors of the society as a measure of strengthening its anti tobacco campaign being launched to eradicate smoking throughout the world.
 
The Director General of the World Health Organization Dr. Mrs. Margarette Van said that the WHO decided to confer this year's award to Minister of Health Maithreepala Sirisena in recognition of the decision taken by the Minister to have warning signs about oral cancer in 80 percent of cigarette packets and steps being taken by him to eradicate smoking from Sri Lanka.  
 
Health Ministry sources said that smoking kills 54 persons in Sri Lanka each day and Sri Lankans spend Rs. 21 million for smoking each day.  It is the objective of the government to eradicate smoking from the country completely.
 
Mrs. Van said that the programme being carried out by the Ministry of Health has come under special appreciation of the World Health Organization. Enditem