Sri Lanka is mooting introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products that prohibits use of logos, colours and brand images, its President Maithripala Sirisena said in India today.
 

Delivering a special address at the inaugural session of the 7th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) to World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), he said his country has been addressing the tobacco issue in numerous other ways, including by adopting strict laws.

 
He said he was grateful to his “good friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi for showing commitment on the subject of tobacco control by hosting the conference.

 
“My minister of health is proposing to introduce plain packaging which is another important measure in the near future. We thank FCTC for the excellent technical support,” he said in his address.
He said that in line with FCTC, Sri Lanka has set up a National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol.
The Sri Lankan President, who arrived in India yesterday, said that his country has accepted various recommendations from FCTC and is one of the first countries in South East Asian region to sign and ratify it.
 

“Since I assumed the Presidents office, tobacco and alcohol control has been on top of my national agenda. I have set up a presidential task force to monitor situation related to drugs and narcotics,” he said.

-PTI
-Agencies

“I should be grateful to my good friend Narendra Modi for their commitment to the subject of this conference,” he said.