'Apply Tobacco and Alcohol Law on an equal basis'

Nipuni WIMALAPALA

Senior lawyer Kalinga Indatissa yesterday urged the government to enforce the Tobacco and Alcohol Law on tobacco related items on an equal basis.

Kalinga Indatissa addressing the seminar. Picture by Nissanka Wijeratne

He said not only cigarettes, cigars and beedies too contain tobacco.

Indatissa added that a certain manufacturer producing white beedies had said that his products are not tobacco related.

Addressing a seminar on recent developments in the law relating to tobacco industry, Indatissa said people in low income groups are addicted to smoking.

He noted that the main tobacco products manufactured in Sri Lanka are cigarettes, cigars, beedies, cigarette substitutes and pipe tobaccos.

Explaining the issue , Indatissa said that high addiction is seen among estate workers who earn a low income. "White beedies are very popular in Kegalle and Ratnapura areas.

We insist that it should also be considered as a tobacco product and apply the prevailing law on it equally," he further said. The two main issues regarding tobacco products around the world are, sale of tobacco products to underaged persons and smoking in public.

Emphasizing the importance of amendment of laws, Indatissa mentioned that the stereotyped laws have to be amended to suit the modern era.

Since things are changing continuously we want to make certain reforms in laws which would go in line with modern society, he added.