Expert calls for price hike on fags

by Ananda AGALAKADA

The minimum price of a cigarette in Sri Lanka should be increased to at least Rs. 35, said Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa of the National Cancer Institute, quoting a recent study by experts.

He said according to an analysis on tobacco affordability carried out by Researcher and Economist Dr. Nishan de Mel, the increase of cigarette prices during the past few years has been effected at a relatively low level.

Dr. Rajapaksa said that at least an additional 51 percent increase should take place. "This would act as a further boost to efforts by various groups to discourage smoking in the country", he said.

"When tax on cigarettes is increased, their prices go up.

The increase of cigarette prices helps in reducing cigarette consumption especially among youth and low income sectors. According to this study, cigarette prices at low levels encourage more smoking among those two categories", he said.

Dr. Rajapaksa said the increase of cigarette prices has been at a very low level over the past few years.

Therefore, affordability prevails at a high level, he said.

According to the findings of Dr. de Mel's 2009 study, though the real price of a cigarette should have been Rs. 27.20, the prevalent price was Rs. 18.00.

In 2010, though it should have been Rs. 31.20, it was sold at Rs. 19.00. In 2009 4.1 billion cigarettes were sold. If the government sold them at Rs. 27.00 the tax income would have increased enormously.

According to Dr. Rajapaksa, smoking is one of the main causes of death, disability and illness in Sri Lanka. Tobacco is also one of the main agents responsible for cancer.