405 days and counting - Editorial

It is easy to promise, propose and demand yet difficult to deliver, but this does not mean all things are hard to deliver.  Sometimes, though, things that are easy to accomplish just don’t get done, even if they are very important.  Lack of resources and lack of will are often obstacles, but sometimes there is foot-dragging by interested parties that stump the simplest plans.   

It is 405 days since the gazette notification was issued regarding pictorial warnings on cigarette packets.  The matter is in court, so we will not talk about the legal wrangling.  We could, however, comment on opinions expressed. Indeed, we cannot but comment when opinion is expressed by no less than the most revered representatives of the clergy belonging to all major religions practiced in the country.

Just last week, statements were issued by the Chief Prelates of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters of the Siyam Nikaya as well as the Chief Prelates of the Ramanya and Amarapura Nikayas, calling for the speedy implementation of pictorial warning regulations as per the above gazette notification.  It is reported that representatives of the All Ceylon Jamaiyyathul Ulama and the President of the International Hindu Religious Federation have endorsed this position taken by the Mahanayake Theras.

The Director, Catholic Social Communication Centre, Father Benedict Joseph has also pointed out that pictorial warnings could help stop young people from taking up the habit.

Now it is not unusual for the peddlers of products that are unhealthy to human beings to demand positive proof that the particular product causes particular diseases.  They are on relatively safe ground because ill-effects take a long time to materialise and given that a single outcome can be produced by multiple clauses, such objectors can litigate to the point of despair, or in the very least obtain postponement after postponement of implementation date.

On the other hand, ‘Mathata Thitha’ is one of the key elements of the Government’s overall policy for the country and the citizens.   No one will argue for tobacco being ‘wholesome’ or ‘necessary’.  Few will say it is not addictive.  The economic costs to the country (even after counting in tax revenue) are severe, especially if one considers that human resources developed courtesy of free education and free medical care, are lost forever on account of unnecessary and preventable death.
There is overwhelming evidence that pictorial warnings do have a positive impact; they stop young people from lighting that first cigarette which would ensure ‘lifetime revenue’ to the tobacco industry.  It took years of advocacy, poster campaigns and other awareness programmes by outfits such as ADIC to make public transport and public spaces smoke-free.  It is time to build on these gains.

The message from the religious leaders is clear. They are, let us not forget, the most powerful, influential and widely respected members of civil society.   Together, they represent the vast majority of the citizenry.  This is as close as we would get to a referendum on the issue.

Let there be no more delays.  Four hundred and five days is a long, long, long time to ruminate on this.  Let there be determination. Right now.