Tobacco Use Remains a Critical Challenge for Sri Lanka – Sunimalee Madurawala

29 October 2021

Although Sri Lanka has made commendable progress in reducing smoking prevalence, tobacco use remains a critical health and economic challenge for the country according to IPS Research Economist Sunimalee Madurawala. Sunimalee was speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Tobacco Control: A Critical Piece of the Global Health Puzzle’ organised by Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Sunimalee further stated that targetted interventions, an inflation-adjusted and streamlined tax system, banning single cigarette stick sales, providing effective cessation services, and controlling informal tobacco promotions are important policy measures to reduce the prevalence rates among the remaining stock of smokers in the country.

CRUK hosted the webinar in the run up to the ninth Conference of Parties (COP9) to the FCTC and the Members of Parties (MOP2) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in November. The webinar highlighted the importance of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and the work of researchers globally to advocate for tobacco tax and understand the insidious nature of the illicit trade in their contexts.

Sunimalee’s presentation was on ‘Meeting the Challenges and Barriers to Tightening Tobacco Control Policies in Sri Lanka’ at the webinar. The presentation was based on the findings of the studies done under the IPS Tobacco Control Programme, funded by CRUK and facilitated by KIVU International.

Download presentation HERE.