No cigarette sales near schools

The government will prohibit cigarette sales within a periphery of 500 metres from schools, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

The Minister said the government had taken numerous steps to discourage smoking, and the latest would be to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within the periphery of 500 metres from the schools.

He said he submitted the Cabinet paper seeking approval for this.