SL first to ratify WHO sponsored FCTC: President
Prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
Sri Lanka’s remarkable position as the first country in Asia and the fourth in the world, to ratify the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and other achievements in the field of prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs will inspire many in the domestic and global arena, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.
He added that the establishment of the National Authority of Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) and enforcement of NATA Act were very significant in this aspect.
The President was addressing the Inauguration of the International Organization of Good Templars (IOGT) at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy on (Thursday) October 3.
“I have established a Presidential Task Force to eradicate the drug menace and I am personally involved in the activities of the task force,” he added.
“This conference is looking at alcohol policy of the 21st Century, focusing on what is required to combat the alcohol problem altogether. I am proud to say that we have
I have established a Presidential Task Force to eradicate the drug menace and I am personally involved in the activities of the task force
implemented 80% of pictorial warnings in all tobacco packs and very recently we increased the taxes on tobacco, as it is one of the most effective ways of discouraging initiation,” President Sirisena stressed.
“I recall working closely with the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) as a young Opposition Member of Parliament in the 1980s. I faced many challenges when I proposed to implement the pictorial health warning on tobacco packs in Sri Lanka,” he said.
“According to my knowledge, today we have more than 80 participants from 22 countries participating in this conference.i am certain that this conference would initiate fruitful dialogue among all the delegates and contribute towards more effective and efficient alcohol prevention and policies.” President Sirisena said.