President calls to protect future generations from tobacco, alcohol menace

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday affirmed that the children who represent the country's future, should be protected from the scourge of alcoholism and the tobacco menace.

President Rajapaksa made this observation when he handed over the appointment letters to the members of the newly established National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, at Temple Trees yesterday.

"All hopes and aspirations for minimising the consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco in our country, has become a reality with the establishment of this Authority today. It has been recorded that smoking has dropped considerably, resulting in a corresponding drop in the rate of the deadly disease of cancer.

We are all committed to perform our duties for our country in this sphere. May you all have the strength and the courage to take this programme forward," the President said.

Professor Dr.Carlo Fonseka is the Chairman of the Authority. Professor Dr. Geetha fernando, Dr. Neil Fernando, Sisira Kodagoda, D.N. Jayathilake, Kamalini De Silva, N. Madawannarachchi, Wajira Narampanawa, T. Ashoka Peiris, K.B.H. Perera, President's Counsel P. Mendis, D.G.M.V. Happuarachchi and H.N.B. Abanwela were given appointment letters by the President.