Sri Lanka: Govt. Will Ban Use of Tobacco Products from 2020

Source from:  Daily News 04/06/2016

The Yahapalana Government will ban the use of tobacco products from 2020, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

The President was addressing a gathering at the Kurunegala Maligapitiya Ground last evening.

President Sirisena said the people of Kurunegala had spent Rs.18 billion on alcohol and Rs.3.5 billion on cigarettes respectively.

This is the fifth meeting organized by the Presidential Task Force for drugs and prevention conducted with the assistance of the Kurunegala District Secretariat.

The President said the government promised to end the period of bad governance which prevailed in Sri Lanka for many decades and to bring about orderly governance that will ensure accountability and transparency.

President Sirisena further stated we need to educate the people in order to wean them away from smoking and alcohol.

"We hope to ban cigarettes from 2020," he added.

"We have started four important projects such as Health, Foods, Environment and Alcohol.Out of these Alcohol is the main target," the President said.

The President said over 9,000 TB patients are detected in Sri Lanka annually.

"The World Health Organization aims to eliminate TB from the world by 2020. But, Sri Lanka expects to reach this goal before that," the President added.

"Our responsibility is to do away with corruption and injustice from the country. The Police have begun operations to eradicate the activities of the underworld which have become the bane of society," the President said.

After the meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena gave away special awards those who spearheaded the anti -smoking and anti- alcohol programmes in the North Western Privince.

The welcome speech was delivered by NWP Secretary Gamini Illangarathne.

Meanwhile, President Maithripala Siriesena also went on an observation tour of the Environment sustainable project around the Kurunegala Ranthaliya Tank initiated under the "Yaha Jeevanaye Viyana Bandhimu" five year plan in the Wayamba.

Wayamba Development and Cultural Minister S.B. Navinne, Dissaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Chief Organizer of the Presidential Task Force for Drugs and Prevention in the NWP Shantha Bandara and several others participated at the event. Enditem