Dr. Senaratne said around 20,000 Sri Lankans die annually due to health problems caused by smoking.

There are no pictorial warning on illegal foreign cigarettes imported to Sri Lanka. However, Cabinet approval has been granted to take legal action against persons importing cigarettes without pictorial warnings, he said.

“The use of beede is also a major issue which needs to be addressed. I supported the decision taken in Parliament to ban smoking in public places,” he said.

The WHO has introduced four methods to control tobacco and alcohol. One is increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol, which Sri Lanka has implemented. Likewise taxes on salt, sugar and edible oil should also be increased to avoid people dying due to excess consumption of these items, he emphasised.