(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Minister of Health, Rajitha Senaratne, stated that his Ministry is currently working on a Cabinet paper to ban the sale of individual cigarettes in the market.
The Cabinet paper will be presented to the Cabinet next week.
Senaratne added that the Government is also intending to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.
Assuring that aid will be provided to tobacco farmers who will lose their jobs as a result of the new regulations; he said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank will assist them in finding new avenues of employment.
The Minister made these remarks addressing a health camp at the Bulathsinghala Ratiyala School.
