News
NATA wants price of cigarettes increased annually by six percent
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) said yesterday that it would introduce a tax formula which would lead to an annual increase of 6 percent in cigarette prices.
Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa, Chairman, NATA, said that the NATA was also planning to make it difficult for people to purchase cigarettes.
“This will reduce the ability to buy cigarettes. When this is implanted, the smoking prevalence – 9.1% among men – will drop to around 6%,” he said.
Dr. Rajapaksa mentioned that the proposed tax formula consisted of six separate components––Cigarette Tax Percentage, proposed Price for next year, inflation, present Price, GDP, and the externality factor of 4%.
“The 4% is added to ensure that the price of a cigarette is increased every year even if inflation drops to zero. There are many myths about the tax revenue of cigarettes and alcohol. Many people believe that the State depends heavily on these taxes. This is not true, our tax revenue from these sources is about 11% only,” the NATA Chairman said.
“Given the sheer amount of misinformation about tax revenue, even the most senior policy-makers and ministers believe this. Thus, the media must collaborate with NATA to set the record straight.”
Dr. Rajapaksa earlier said that the NATA would increase the minimum age for sale, purchase and promotion of tobacco products from 21 to 24, in 2022.
Rajapaksa told the media that NATA had decided to amend the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act this year.
The increase of the minimum age for sale, purchase and promotion of tobacco products was one of the proposed amendments to the Act, he said.
“Already advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco is prohibited. We want to stop the cross border advertising of tobacco products, too,” he said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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