World No Tobacco Day national ceremony to be held tomorrow

The special national celebration event held in the country for "World No Tobacco Day", declared by the World Health Organisation to educate global citizens about the health and economic damages caused by tobacco use and to minimise deaths resulting from it, is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. The Department of Health stated this.

The ministry mentioned that this special event, jointly organised in cooperation with the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and the World Health Organisation, is scheduled to be held under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.

"Exposing the tobacco industry's deceitful tactics – opposing tobacco and nicotine products" is the theme for World No Tobacco Day this time.

The Ministry of Health mentioned that this national programme will focus special attention on protecting the Sri Lankan youth generation from addiction to tobacco and nicotine and promoting the vision of a tobacco-free generation.

Furthermore, an extensive discussion is scheduled to take place here regarding the true situation of cigarette and tobacco-related product usage in the country, the importance of managing addictive behaviours, and the direct impact of these products on individual physical and mental well-being.

The Ministry of Health also stated that since the tobacco and nicotine industry continuously updates its products and marketing approaches, protecting children and adolescents turned into a critical priority in public health.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health mentioned that increasing awareness, strengthening multilateral actions, and mobilising stakeholders to ensure future generations grow up free from these harms remain a primary objective of this programme.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Specialist Dr Anil Jasinghe, the Resident Representative of the World Health Organisation to the country, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, Professor Duminda Guruge (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka), Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka), Janaka Kollalpitiya (Board Member of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol), and Professor Pratibha Mahanamahewa (University of Colombo) are scheduled to deliver special lectures at this celebration event.