Alcohol ad at SSC irks NATA

Chaminda PERERA

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) yesterday informed Sri Lanka Cricket to remove the advertisement of an alcoholic beverage which is being displayed at the Sri Lanka and India cricket match at the Sinhalese Sports Club upon receipt of online complaint from a spectator.

This spectator has complained to the authority over the violation of Tobacco and Alcohol Act at the SSC grounds. NATA Chairman Prof Carlo Fonseka in a letter to Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket says that this advertisement violates the provisions of National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act No. 27 of 2006 which clearly specified the prohibition of tobacco or alcohol advertisements in section 35 of the Act.

Prof Fonseka says that Sri Lanka Cricket should take urgent and immediate action to remove this advertisement from the SSC grounds as it is clearly in contravention of the NATAA of 2006.

He says that the Authority will be left with no other option than instituting legal action against the violators of NATAA Act,if this advertisement continues to be displayed at this venue or any other venues in which future matches are planned to be played.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Authority Dr. Prasanna Cooray yesterday told the Daily News that a spectator of the India - Sri Lanka Test match at the SSC has made this online complaint.

The public can make complaints over the violation of National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act to the NATA over the phone.

"We receive complaints from members of the public over the violation of this Act and appropriate action would be taken against such violators," he added.

He added that the public can make complaints through the Authority's website too. "We have reserved special place where the public can make complaints over the violations of this Act to the Authority," Dr. Cooray added.

Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Dulip Mendis yesterday told the Daily News that he was not aware of such an incident and appropriate action would be taken when he received the letter from NATA.