• Post-2010 tobacco-free generation adoption mooted

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) has proposed amendments to every section of the NATA Act, No. 27 of 2006 (as amended), and the proposals have been handed over to the Health Ministry, the NATA said.  

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), NATA Chairperson Ananda Ratnayaka said the amendments include structural changes, definition changes, changes in the fine amounts, and suggestions to add entirely new provisions also. “The composition of the Board members in the NATA is suggested to be changed, and there are also suggestions to appoint officers for some specific new official positions. Furthermore, a few changes to the definitions of terms such as ‘tobacco’ and ‘drugs’ are also suggested,” he said.  

According to him, if the amendments are passed, Board members and members of the NATA will be required to give an affidavit stating they hold no relationships with any parties from the tobacco industry, in order to avoid any conflict of interest.  

He further added that with the hope of making the country a "tobacco-free generation", a legal provision banning the selling to and buying of tobacco products by those born after 2010, has also been suggested. “There are already many countries that have decided a year after which tobacco will not be sold, bought, or consumed within the country. The latest country to pass such a law is the United Kingdom. We are also planning to become a tobacco-free generation through this step,” he added. 

Sri Lanka’s tobacco-free generation policy is part of a global tobacco endgame strategy. The formal commitment of the country to the said concept was first featured at the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, which concluded with a major declaration also. The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, the Medical Association and the Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are also working, both in collaboration and independently, towards the same goal of making Sri Lanka a tobacco-free country.

The concept paper proposing the creation of a “tobacco-free generation” comprising all children born after 2010 has been formally submitted to the Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The proposal, developed by the NATA, outlines a scientifically grounded programme aimed at eliminating future generations’ exposure to tobacco products.  Alongside the concept paper, a set of recommendations to amend and update the NATA Act was also presented.

Health sector stakeholders, including the NATA, the Medical Association, professional medical bodies, as well as non-governmental organisations, have indicated two key interventions to mitigate the social and health burden caused by tobacco and alcohol use. These include legislative reforms to strengthen existing regulations of the NATA Act and the introduction of measures to prohibit access to tobacco products for individuals born after a specified year, in line with the “tobacco-free generation” concept already adopted by several countries.

Dr. Jayatissa noted that tobacco and alcohol pose significant obstacles to children progressing towards a healthier future.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Dr. Ratnayaka noted that nearly 80 per cent of deaths in Sri Lanka are attributed to NCDs, with tobacco and alcohol identified as major contributing factors. He further pointed out that Sri Lanka continues to face significant health, economic, and social challenges linked to tobacco and alcohol consumption, with an estimated 22,000 deaths reported annually due to these substances. He also described tobacco and alcohol as gateway substances that contribute to the use of other drugs.

Meanwhile, Professor in Psychiatry at the Rajarata University’s Medical Faculty, Amila Isuru emphasised that tobacco and cigarette use remain a critical public health concern, particularly among younger populations. He noted that smoking has been identified as a major barrier to children progressing towards a healthier future, adding that cigarette use among schoolchildren has shown a concerning increase. He further pointed out that a significant portion of the country’s healthcare expenditure is directed towards treating smoking-related illnesses, while globally, only around 1% of smokers seek medical treatment. In this context, he emphasised that the most effective approach to mitigating the harmful societal impact of smoking is to curb the spread of cigarettes and reduce the number of smokers. He added that a scientifically proven strategy adopted worldwide is to restrict access to tobacco products for future generations, thereby preventing children from initiating smoking.

Globally, tobacco use accounts for approximately 80 million deaths annually, of which nearly 70 million die due to the direct consumption of tobacco products and about 10% die due to passive smoking.