Health officials warn that selling cigarettes one by one hides health risks, fuels addiction, and costs Sri Lanka thousands of lives and billions of rupees each year.
A fresh discussion has emerged on banning the sale of single stick cigarettes, following concerns raised by officials of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol during a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment. Officials stressed that 104 countries worldwide have already banned the practice and argued that a similar legal framework is necessary in Sri Lanka to strengthen tobacco control.
They pointed out that when cigarettes are sold individually, consumers do not see the mandatory health warnings printed on cigarette packaging, weakening public health messaging. The committee meeting was held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe.
NATA officials informed the committee that around 22,000 people die annually due to tobacco and alcohol consumption, while the country suffers an estimated economic loss of Rs. 225 to 240 billion each year. They added that steps are underway to amend the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act to address these issues more effectively.
The officials also emphasized the need to impose taxes on cigarettes after determining their prices. Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe told the Daily Mirror that no final decision has been taken yet and that discussions are ongoing.
