Anti tobacco case taken up for hearing

Jayantha de Silva

A petition filed in the Court of Appeal requesting the Health Minister or the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol to fully implement the regulations prescribed in the Tobacco products labelling and packaging gazette without prejudice to Parliament was taken up for hearing on October 22. The Bench constituting of Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice Sunil Rajapakse issued notice to the respondents returnable on November 12.

The petitioner is Jayasuriya Hewage Sirimal Pathmasiri a resident of Polgasowita. The respondents cited are Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol and the Attorney General.

The petition inter alia states that tobacco amongst other health hazards causes cancer, heart risks and impotency. Eighty per cent of cancer patients are smokers, statistics reveal. The Mahinda Chinthanaya Mathata Thitha has referred the perils of alcohol. The relief prayed for is to grant/issue a mandate in the nature of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent or the second respondent to fully implement the regulations without prejudice to Parliament powers.

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Anti tobacco case taken up for hearing