Tobacco.org

Inquiry into biggest cigarette racket under way  

The Customs Preventive Division is conducting an inquiry into the smuggling of cigarettes from Dubai valued at Rs. 16.4 million. According to customs sources this was the biggest detection this year.

Statements were recorded from the travellers whose names appeared on the packages and the air cargo company which handled the consignment, said Assistant Director, Customs Preventive Division, K. A. Dharmasena.

He said that those whose names were mentioned on the packages denied any knowledge of these items.

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90 pc dip in smoking in public places 

Smoking in public places has reduced by 90 per cent and the use of alcohol has gone down by 40 per cent since January 1, 2007. This is after the Government introduced the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Act under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s concept ‘Mathata Thitha’ (Full stop to drugs and liquor), a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. . . .

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has already instructed the National Tobacco and Alcohol Control Authority to amend the existing Tobacco and Alcohol Control Act by including roads in the list of public places.

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GUNATILLEKE: President's Mathata Thitha brings results: 90 per cent dip in smoking in public places, alcohol use 

Smoking in public places has reduced by 90 per cent and the use of alcohol has gone down by 40 per cent since January 1, 2007.

This is after the Government introduced the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Act under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's concept 'Mathata Thitha' (Full stop to drugs and liquor), a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. There are 250,000 cannabis users in Sri Lanka and the number of heroin users is 40,000. . . .

On this International Day Against Drug Abuse, let us each shoulder our responsibility to prevent and reduce the damage that drugs do, and thereby build a healthier and safer world.

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PEIRIS: Bringing into being ‘Tobacco-free Youth’ 

The theme for World No Tobacco Day (May 31st) is "Tobacco-free Youth". In the world today, there are approximately 1.8 billion young people (between 10-24). Of them 85% live in developing countries. These young people having survived the vulnerable childhood period are generally healthy.

Nevertheless with the efforts of the tobacco industry to hook new, young and potentially life-long tobacco users, the health of a significant percentage of the world's youth is seriously threatened by their deadly products. Since nicotine is a highly addictive substance, child and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to lifetime tobacco dependence. There is risk of youth and children becoming a prey to industry strategies. . . .

The Sri Lankan government became a party to the FCTC by ratifying the Tobacco Control Act in December 2006. It has already begun implementing a comprehensive advertising ban including promotion and sponsorship, smoking in enclosed public areas and sales to minors (21 years and below). As citizens concerned about the health of the people of this country, we all have a responsibility and right to see that these prohibitions are properly and adequately enforced. Any violations of the law may be brought to the notice of the National Authority on Tobacco & Alcohol (NATA).

In this regard ,segments in society, such as the law enforcers, media and the legal sector, have to prevent the industry from enhancing its image by offering them rewards which they really do not deserve. Tobacco or tobacco smoking is a social, health and legal problem.

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Tobacco Use Among Students Aged 13--15 Years --- Sri Lanka, 1999--2007 

In 1999, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was initiated by WHO, CDC, and the Canadian Public Health Association to monitor tobacco use, attitudes about tobacco use, and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among students aged 13--15 years. Since 1999, the survey has been completed by approximately 2 million students in 151 countries (3). A key goal of GYTS is for countries to repeat the survey every 4 years. This report summarizes results from GYTS conducted in Sri Lanka in 1999, 2003, and 2007. The findings indicated that during 1999--2007, the percentage of students aged 13--15 years who reported current cigarette smoking decreased, from 4.0% in 1999 to 1.2% in 2007. During this period, the percentage of never smokers in this age group likely to initiate smoking also decreased, from 5.1% in 1999 to 3.7% in 2007. Future declines in tobacco use in Sri Lanka will be enhanced through development and implementation of new tobacco-control measures and strengthening of existing measures that encourage smokers to quit, eliminate exposure to SHS, and encourage persons not to initiate tobacco use.

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Sri Lanka raises cigarette taxes  

Sri Lanka is hoping to raise one and half billion rupees from a hike in tobacco taxes which has increased retail prices of most cigarette brands by one rupee, officials said.

"The bulk of the revenue from the price increase would to the government," Dinesh Dharmadasa, Corporate Affairs Director of CTC told LBO.

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Sri Lanka offers to host regional anti tobacco talks 

Sri Lanka has offered to host the consultations of the South-East Asia Regional Group (SEAR) of the World Health Organization on the Protocol on the illicit trade in Tobacco Products in October 2008.

The offer was made during the First Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on a Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products which concluded in Geneva on Friday. The Conference was attended by delegates from over 150 countries, observers, organizations and NGOs

Sri Lanka together with the other members of the SEAR actively participated in the deliberations both at the regional consultative meetings as well as the plenary sessions, in respect of the template of the Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products prepared by an expert group appointed by the secretariat of the Convention of Tobacco Control.

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Minister highlights Govt's efforts towards tobacco and alcohol free society 

Sri Lanka was the first country in the South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO Region) to ratify the Convention on Tobacco Control and the fourth in the world.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his election manifesto known as the `Mahinda Chinthanaya' emphasised his political vision and commitment towards the reduction in the consumption of tobacco and alcohol products in Sri Lanka, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Addressing the first session of Intergovernmental Negotiating on a Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products held at the International Conference Centre, Geneva he said President Rajapaksa's aim of `Mathata Thitha' gathered momentum with the support of governmental and non governmental organisations, religious groups and other voluntary groups working towards a tobacco and alcohol free society.

De Silva said the Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol and the legislation was unanimously passed in the Parliament without a single member opposing it.

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Sri Lanka high tobacco taxes bring benefits  

Sri Lanka's high tobacco taxes and new laws have brought big benefits, with smokers and consumption falling, information filed by the multinational that has most of the island's cigarette market showed.

Ceylon Tobacco Company, a Colombo listed firm owned by British American Tobacco and Phillip Morris said revenues increased 12.6 percent to 11.8 billion rupees as prices were raised.

"Driven by the decline in the number of smokers and their average daily consumption levels, total industry volumes continued to decline during the period under review," the company said in a stock exchange filing.

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Sri Lanka gets more tobacco taxes for less harm  

Sri Lanka's government has got more tax revenue while reducing deadly tobacco sales under a new policy to trim the harm from tobacco on the population, results of the island's top producer showed.

Ceylon Tobacco Company a British American Tobacco company, which is minority-owned by Phillip Morris had also increased its own revenues and profits even as volumes fell.

Gross revenue for the year rose to 46.5 billion from 42.8 billion rupees while net revenue, minus government levies, increased to 8.7 billion rupees from 7.3 billion rupees in 2006, its latest financial release showed.

CTC said total revenue to the state, including a provincial council tax that was raised from one to give percent, gave the government 40 billion rupees, which was 4.6 billion higher than the previous year.

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• Bhikkus battle tobacco, alcohol lobbies 

Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks see their fight against tobacco and alcohol abuse as more urgent than the war that the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is prosecuting against the LTTE.

"At least 50,000 people have died due to the conflict in the past 25 years. But, every year about 40,000 die in Sri Lanka due to illnesses from alcohol and tobacco use," observed Hadigalle Wimalasara Thera, a member of the JHU which provides crucial support to the Government.

"Those who talk about human rights are strangely silent when it comes to an issue like this which kills and harms much more people," added the Buddhist monk

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Ceylon Tobacco profits grow despite less smoking 

Despite the decline in the number of smokers in the country as well as a drop in the average daily cigarette consumption levels, the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) has posted an after-tax profit of Rs.1.08 billion, up 13.5% from a year earlier, in the nine months to Sept. 30, 2007.

The company has already paid its shareholders three interim dividends totaling Rs.5.50 per ten-rupee share for the period under review and the directors have told shareholders that they are ``confident of delivering a satisfactory return for the year ending December 30, 2007.''

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Sri Lanka high tobacco taxes bring benefits 

Sri Lanka's high tobacco taxes and new laws have brought big benefits, with smokers and consumption falling, information filed by the multinational that has most of the island's cigarette market showed.

Ceylon Tobacco Company, a Colombo listed firm owned by British American Tobacco and Phillip Morris said revenues increased 12.6 percent to 11.8 billion rupees as prices were raised.

"Driven by the decline in the number of smokers and their average daily consumption levels, total industry volumes continued to decline during the period under review," the company said in a stock exchange filing.

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EDITORIAL: The tobacco and alcohol menace 

THE PRICE of fags has gone up once again almost as a ritual ahead of the National Budget.

The Ceylon Tobacco Company has announced an increase in the price of all popular brands of cigarettes by as much as Rs.1.50, which is said to be the biggest ever price hike introduced. There is little doubt that liquor too would follow suit.

No sensible person would oppose these price hikes, as the adverse effects of these two evils are well known. . . .

The other side of the coin is that a bootleg tobacco industry has sprung up, depriving the State of millions of rupees. The recent detection of Rs. 100 million worth illegally smuggled cigarettes is a case in point.

Islandwide raids by excise officers also reveal the existence of hundreds of moonshine outlets doing brisk business. They do not pay a red cent to the State, but it has to spend heavily to treat alcoholics who develop various diseases after consuming the vile drinks.

Thus there has to be a compromise between taxes and the affordability of legal liquor, as exorbitant prices can drive imbibers to the illicit market.

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Liquor, cigarette sales drop as strict regulations take effect 

Sri Lanka's liquor and cigarette sales have fallen considerably after the introduction of strict legal measures by the judiciary and police under the Tobacco and Alcohol Act which was enacted in December last year, official sources told The Sunday Times.

Stern regulatory measures taken by the Government on public advertisements and scenes in films and tele-dramas depicting tobacco and liquor consumption have contributed immensely in the reduction in the volume of liquor and cigarette sales countrywide, they said.

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