• ADIC urges increased tobacco taxation 

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) is in discussions with the Environment Ministry and other parties to draft and present a proposal for the Government to take necessary actions to ban cigarette filters. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the NATA Chairperson, Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka said that the institution is currently in discussions to ban one of the biggest non-degradable waste products in the country - cigarette filters.

"In Sri Lanka, approximately six million cigarette filters are added to the environment on a daily basis. It is one of the biggest non-degradable waste products in the country. The harm caused by the disposal of cigarette filters into the environment is widely recognised, particularly with regard to water sources. Adding them to our water resources is a huge issue that the environment is facing these days," he added.

“Major benefits are expected to be reaped by this project proposal. Firstly, environmental conservation. Secondly, to dispel the misconception that the cigarette 'filter' acts as a 'filter for the toxic chemicals' which reduces health hazards, when in fact it is the other way round”.

In the 11th Framework Convention on Tobacco Control conference that was held in Geneva, Switzerland, last year (2025), Sri Lanka accepted the suggestion of the international community to ban cigarette filters from the country and has been admitted to implement the programme together with the Clean Sri Lanka project.

Meanwhile, according to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) organisation, tobacco companies in Sri Lanka are raking in profits despite declining sales, sparking concerns over the Government's tax policies. The ADIC pointed out weak tax principles that allow companies to reap benefits as the root cause. Speaking to The Daily Morning, the ADIC’s Executive Director Sampath De Seram said that while tobacco consumption in the country has been on the decline over the years, company profits continue to soar. "In some occasions, more than 50 per cent of the taxes go back to the tobacco companies," De Seram alleged.

He further added that this year’s (2026) Budget has sparked further concerns, with no new taxes introduced to discourage production and consumption. 

In 2023, cigarette sales dropped, yet companies reported increased profits, attributed to cost-cutting measures. The Government aims to boost revenue through tax reforms, critics argue that more needs to be done to curb tobacco use and address health concerns.

Attempts to contact the Finance Ministry regarding the concerns were unsuccessful.