Sri Lankan Government Spending Rs.147 Billion Annually To Treat Patients Suffering From Non Communicable Diseases-Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne At The South And South East Asian Regional Health Ministers Summit

Sri Lankan government is spending Rs.147 billion annually to treat Patients hospitalized due to the Non Communicable Diseases and out of it Rs.72 Billion allocated for treating diseases caused due to smoking according to Minister Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr.Rajitha Senaratne.

Due to this fact the Present  Government has taken steps to introduce new regulations to combat the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka and accordingly a cabinet proposal was submitted to the Cabinet to increase the  percentage imposed on Cigarettes from 72% to 90% the Minister has stated.Also a 15% VAT will be imposed on Cigarettes to further deter the smoking among Sri Lankan population he has stressed.

"I have made a proposal to the Government to impose taxes on Sugar,Oil and Salt which are identified as major risk factors for spreading Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka.The Health Ministry has managed to introduce sugar coated traffic light system a color code to display contained sugar levels in soft drinks available in the market with effect from 01st of August"Minister has revealed at the Press Conference held for local and foreign media personal at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo yesterday(05) regarding the ongoing South and South East Asian Health Ministers summit.

As Sri Lanka has introduced a law to display pictorial warnings on tobacco related diseases by covering 80% of the Cigarette Pack Surface ,a proposal also has been  made to remain the 20% surface of Cigarette Packs blank it has been revealed.

Through these regulations Sri Lanka is expected to reduce the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases by 10% in the year 2020,By 20% in the year 2025 and more than 25% in the year 2030 the Minister has  further added.