Ban all tobacco product sales to those born after 2010- SLMA tells President

By Charithya Kumarasiri

Colombo, July 11 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Expert Committee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs have urged the government to introduce a “Tobacco-Free Generation” policy that would prohibit the sale of all tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2010, warning that continued tobacco use poses a major threat to public health, social wellbeing and the country’s economy.

In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Expert Committee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs urged the government to adopt the policy, which they said would prevent thousands of young people from becoming addicted to tobacco while reducing the likelihood of progression to other harmful substances, including illicit drugs.

Describing the proposal as a “futuristic, step-wise commitment” to Sri Lanka’s children, the letter stated that tobacco remains one of the most harmful commercial products in the world, with an industry model dependent on recruiting new users. “Our children deserve to inherit freedom from this substance that kills one of two of its users,” it stated.

The appeal highlighted the significant health and economic burden caused by tobacco use in Sri Lanka. Tobacco is estimated to kill around 20,000 people annually, while the economic cost of tobacco-related harm was estimated at Rs. 214 billion in 2019. This is in addition to the financial and emotional hardship faced by users and their families due to addiction, healthcare expenses, loss of income and tobacco-related illnesses such as heart disease, strokes, cancers, dementia and blindness.

The medical experts further warned that the tobacco industry continues to deliberately target young people through digital media, point-of-sale displays and product design. They noted that those who begin using tobacco during adolescence face lifelong health consequences, contributing to reduced workforce productivity, increased healthcare costs and preventable premature deaths. With Sri Lanka facing an ageing population and declining birth rate, protecting the health of younger generations has become a matter of national economic importance, the letter stated. A healthier future workforce would help reduce pressure on the healthcare system while strengthening the country’s long-term economic capacity.

The proposed policy is also supported by Sri Lanka’s existing legal and international commitments. Sri Lanka was the first country in Asia and the fourth country in the world to ratify the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003. The letter noted that Sri Lanka’s obligations under the FCTC, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and relevant International Labour Organisation conventions require the protection of children from preventable harm, safeguard their right to health and prevent commercial exploitation. It further pointed out that the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act No. 27 of 2006 already requires measures to discourage tobacco use among children and restrict their access to tobacco products. The proposed Tobacco-Free Generation policy, it said, would be a direct extension of these existing legal obligations.

The medical experts also emphasised that the proposed policy is designed as a gradual, long-term measure, with its public health benefits emerging progressively as successive generations reach adulthood without initiating tobacco use. They added that any impact on tobacco-related employment, retail activity, government revenue and cultivation would unfold gradually over many years, allowing affected sectors and communities sufficient time to adapt to alternative livelihoods.

The Tobacco-Free Generation approach has gained increasing global attention, with several countries exploring similar measures. The Maldives became the first country in the world to enact such legislation, prohibiting tobacco sales to individuals born after January 1, 2007. The United Kingdom followed with the Tobacco and Vapes Act in 2026, permanently banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Canada, Denmark, Singapore and the European Union are also at various stages of considering or adopting comparable measures.

The SLMA and the Expert Committee warned that every delay in implementing such a policy would expose another generation of Sri Lankan children to an industry whose profits depend on recruiting new users. They noted that around 50 people die every day in Sri Lanka due to tobacco-related illnesses and said the tobacco industry needs to recruit new users daily to maintain its profits. They urged the government to adopt the policy not only as a public health intervention but also as a commitment to protecting the wellbeing of children and young people who will shape Sri Lanka’s future.