🚭 Sri Lanka Marks World No Tobacco Day with Focus on Protecting Youth

• National Ceremony: The national event for World No Tobacco Day is being held today (June 15) at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, under the patronage of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. • Theme & Objective: This year's theme is "Exposing the Tobacco Industry’s Deceitful Tactics – Opposing Tobacco and Nicotine Products." The program is jointly organized by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, the Health Ministry, and the WHO. • Key Focus Areas: The national program centers heavily on protecting Sri Lankan youth from tobacco and nicotine addiction to foster a tobacco-free generation. Public health officials highlighted that safeguarding children and adolescents is a critical priority due to the industry's evolving products and marketing. • Economic & Health Discussions: Key discussions and lectures by top medical, academic, and global health experts will address the current state of cigarette consumption, addiction management, and the direct physical, mental, and economic damages caused by tobacco use in the country.