The Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) said that nearly 22,000 deaths are reported annually in Sri Lanka due to tobacco and cigarette use.
According to the center, 83 per cent of deaths in the country are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with tobacco use identified as one of the four main risk factors contributing to these deaths. ADIC further noted that around 1.5 million adults in Sri Lanka are addicted to smoking.
These observations were highlighted at a media conference held in Colombo focusing on the impact of tobacco industry interference on tobacco control efforts in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, Dr. Ananda Ratnayake, said that globally, a death is reported every six seconds due to tobacco use, underscoring the severe public health impact of smoking worldwide.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sajeewa Ranaweera, who also participated in the media briefing, pointed out that taxes levied on cigarettes have decreased since 2021. He warned that lower taxation could undermine tobacco control measures and potentially lead to increased consumption.
Health experts at the event stressed the importance of strengthening tobacco control policies to reduce preventable deaths and the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
