Jump to full article: Daily News (lk), 2008-02-15
Intro: 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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