Stakeholder Meeting to Discuss Tobacco Control Efforts in Sri Lanka

17 July 2024

The IPS recently organised a stakeholder meeting to discuss tobacco control efforts in Sri Lanka, where the research team outlined the proposed activities for the new programme phase. Diverse stakeholders including government officials (National Authority for Tobacco and Alcohol and Ministry of Health), experts from academia and other stakeholders including the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), ADIC, KIVU International, Cancer Research UK, World Health Organization, UNICEF, and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) provided feedback and discussed collaborative efforts for future tobacco control initiatives in Sri Lanka.

The meeting featured presentations on significant findings from recent IPS studies. The study on curbing beedi consumption in Sri Lanka revealed a notable price sensitivity for beedis and smokeless tobacco products in Sri Lanka. The study found that a 10% price increase in beedis would reduce consumption by 5.6%, while a similar increase for betel quid would result in a 10% decrease in betel consumption. It
emphasised the importance of effective taxation on tobacco products to reduce smoking, dispelling the misconception that raising cigarette prices would lead to increased beedi consumption.

The second presentation based on the scoping study on tobacco smuggling highlighted the lack of evidence linking higher taxes to increased tobacco smuggling, which is primarily driven by profit motives and non-price factors such as corruption and organized crime. Recommendations included raising cigarette taxes to reduce demand, enhancing enforcement on high-risk smuggling routes, strengthening border controls, partnering with neighbouring countries and launching public awareness campaigns about the dangers of smuggled tobacco products.

The final presentation focused on the tobacco tax model, examining how changes in tobacco taxes affect government revenue, cigarette consumption and public health. It stressed the need for inflation – adjusted cigarette taxation to ensure that taxes are consistently raised, making cigarettes less affordable and improving health outcomes. The researchers also highlighted the importance of considering health costs and benefits in tobacco tax policies to support higher tobacco taxes.