Cabinet approval has been granted to ban the import of Chinese cigarettes to Sri Lanka, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
During today's cabinet meeting Mr. Senaratne observed that Sri Lanka had won three awards for countering the usage of tobacco in the recent past.
He had also pointed out that the country had signed the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2017 and such decision could not be reversed. The Health Minister added that Sri Lanka has been able to fulfill 20 out of the 22 policies in the Convention.
In the recent past Mr. Senaratne and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been engaged in a verbal spat on importing Chinese cigarettes. The Finance Minister had argued that allowing such imports would generate more revenue to the country.
However, Mr. Samaraweera had called off the decision to import Chinese cigarettes during today's cabinet meeting.
(DW)
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