50 die daily from tobacco use in Sri Lanka: NATA Chairman

Sri Lankans spend an estimated Rs. 520 million daily on cigarettes, worsening financial hardships for individuals, families, and communities

Cigarette filters, used for over 50 years, provide no real health protection and are simply a form of consumer deception 

By Mangala Pavithrani and Poojathmi Rivithma   

The tobacco industry remains one of the deadliest in the world, responsible for the deaths of one in every three of its consumers, raising serious concerns about its continued influence on public health and policy.   

Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), explained that cigarette filters, used for over 50 years, provide no real health protection and are simply a form of consumer deception.   

He noted that around 1.5 million adults smoke in Sri Lanka, resulting in nearly 50 tobacco-related deaths every day.   

Dr. Rathnayaka added that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 83% of all deaths in the country, with tobacco use identified as one of the four main risk factors, placing a heavy burden on the national healthcare system.   

He further stated that Sri Lankans spend an estimated Rs. 520 million daily on cigarettes, worsening financial hardships for individuals, families, and communities.   

“The tobacco industry continues to exert its influence across all levels of government, including both state and semi-state institutions,” he said.   

Despite Sri Lanka’s long-standing commitment to tobacco control, he noted, tobacco use remains a major public health concern. “Cigarette filters offer no real health protection, and around 10 million are discarded into Sri Lanka’s environment daily,” he added.   

Dr. Rathnayaka highlighted that at the tenth anniversary of the General Assembly meeting in Panama and the third conference of state representatives, countries agreed to ban cigarette filters, classifying them as single-use plastics, as cellulose acetate filters cause significant water and soil pollution.   

Amid these challenges, he warned that the tobacco industry continues to use deceptive and unethical strategies to maintain its market and replace its declining consumer base, increasingly targeting youth, children, non-smokers, and other vulnerable groups, directly undermining public health goals.