Sri Lanka

Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.

Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.

Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.

COMMENTS: The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006 (NATA) is the law governing tobacco control in Sri Lanka. The comprehensive law includes measures relating to restrictions on smoking in public places; packaging and labeling requirements; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; establishment of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol; and offenses and penalties. The Act also authorizes the Minister of Health to issue regulations under the law. The Original Language file is in Sinhala and Tamil.

COMMENTS: Issued under NATA, the Government Notification establishes all Food and Drugs Inspectors and Public Health Inspectors as Authorized Officers for purposes of NATA.

COMMENTS: Issued by the Chairman of NATA, these instructions prohibit smoking scenes in television programs produced after NATA became effective in 2006 and provide details regarding the health messages that must be aired when an older television programs contains smoking and drinking scenes.

COMMENTS: Issued under NATA, the Tobacco Products (Labelling and Packaging) Regulations, No. 01 of 2012 specify components of the health warnings (i.e., content, size, etc.), but various provisions in the 2014 amendment replace certain language in these regulations. Prohibitions on misleading descriptors and concealing the health warnings on the package remain in the 2012 regulations unaltered. The Original Language file is in both Sinhala and Tamil.

COMMENTS: These regulations change the effective date of the 2012 regulations, but were rescinded by the May 2014 amendment.

COMMENTS: These regulations contain substitute language for the 2012 regulations, but were rescinded by the May 2014 amendment.

COMMENTS: Regulations Amending the Tobacco Products (Labelling and Packaging) Regulations, No. 01 of 2012 entered into effect on January 1, 2015. The regulation contains substitute language on the size and placement of the health warnings and the content of constituent and emissions statements, among other issues. The Original Language file is in Sinhala and Tamil.

COMMENTS: The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (Amendment) Act increases the size of health warnings required to appear on tobacco product packaging to 80% of the front and back. The law also increases the fines associated with violations of certain packaging requirements. The Original Language file is in Sinhala and Tamil.

COMMENTS: The Prohibited Tobacco Products Regulations, No. 1 of 2016 ban the manufacture, import, and sale of smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes containing tobacco, and flavored, colored, or sweetened cigarettes.

COMMENTS: Ministry of Education Circular No. 20/2020 on Making the Premises of Educational Institutes the Zones Free from Using and Promoting Tobacco-based Products, Alcohol and Other Related Substances bans the use, sale, and promotion of tobacco and related products in educational facilities under the purview of the Ministry of Education.