The Public Health Inspectors' (PHI) Union of Sri Lanka has announced that legal action will be taken against individuals who sell smokeless tobacco leaves alongside betel quids.

Acting President of the PHI Union, Upul Rohana, made this statement while addressing the media today (17).

He said the law would be enforced in accordance with the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006.

Rohana pointed out that, under the First Schedule of the Gazette notification issued in September 2016, the sale of smokeless tobacco leaves is completely prohibited in Sri Lanka.

He emphasized that the objective of enforcing the law is not to inconvenience betel quid vendors, but to protect the public from oral cancer.

According to the PHI Union, between 1,750 and 1,900 cases of oral cancer are reported annually in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Union intends to strengthen the enforcement of the relevant legal provisions to help reduce the incidence of the disease.

Rohana stated that legal action will be taken against individuals found selling smokeless tobacco leaves with betel quids. He noted that under the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, offenders are liable, upon conviction by a Magistrate's Court, to a fine of Rs. 2,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

He further stated that, due to prevailing cultural practices, the law had not been strictly enforced in the past and authorities had instead focused on public awareness programmes.

However, he said that sufficient time has now been given for the public to change these practices, and that the relevant legal provisions will be strictly enforced going forward.

Rohana also clarified that the sale of smoking tobacco leaves remains lawful under the existing legal framework.