Printing delays could kill over 22,000 smokers annually

National Alcohol and Tobacco Authority (NATA) Chairman Prof. Carlo Fonseka focused attention on the long delay of printing cancer related pictorial health warnings on cigarette packets in Sri Lanka. He said the delay would help the local tobacco industry to kill over 22,000 Sri Lankans annually.

He was addressing a seminar at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama to highlight the importance of printing pictorial health warnings on cigarette packets.

It was jointly organised by the National Cancer Institute (NIC) and the Jeevaka Foundation.

Prof. Fonseka said that the relevant Government authorities had neglected repeated warnings in this regard and called upon them to reconsider it at least even this year.

He said the authorities should also take stern action against cigarettes imported illegally which come from the Colombo Port, the Katunayake Airport and other channels.

Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Palitha Maheepala said that smoking has become a big threat to the society and the Health Department has taken steps to minimise tobacco consumption including the ban on the sale of tobacco related products near educational institutions, religious places, bus stands, railway stations, cinema halls, auditoriums and at welfare shops.

National Cancer Institute (NIC) Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa said that at least 18,000 new cancer patients seek indoor and outdoor treatment at the Maharagama NIC every year due to tobacco smoking.

He said over 75 percent oral and lung cancers are caused due to cigarette smoking and advised people, especially the youth to refrain from smoking .