Sri Lanka became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005.
Smoke Free Places: Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public places and workplaces and on public transport. However, smoking is permitted in smoking areas or spaces in airports, hotels having 30 rooms or more, and restaurants having a seating capacity of a minimum of 30 persons.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: Advertising through most forms of mass media is prohibited. The law, however, allows point of sale product display. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Smoked tobacco product packages are required to have pictorial and text health warnings that cover 80 percent of the top front and back of packages and rotate every six months. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light” and “low,” is prohibited, but it is unclear if the prohibition also includes trademarks and figurative and other signs. It is prohibited to manufacture, import, or sell smokeless tobacco products.
Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Sri Lanka are below these recommendations.
| SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
|---|---|
|
Health-care facilities
Yes
|
Private offices
Yes
|
|
Primary and secondary schools
Yes
|
Public transport
Yes
|
|
Universities
Yes
|
Restaurants
No
|
|
Governmental facilities
Yes
|
Bars and Pubs
No
|
|
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
No
|
|
| BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|
|
Domestic TV and radio
Yes
|
Promotional discounts
Yes
|
|
Domestic magazines and newspapers
Yes
|
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising
Yes
|
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Point-of-sale advertising
Yes
|
Paid placement in media
Yes
|
|
Retail product display
No
|
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
Yes
|
|
Internet advertising
Yes
|
Publicity of sponsorships
Yes
|
|
Free distribution
Yes
|
|
| HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
|
Text warnings describe health impacts
Yes
|
Number of published warnings at any given time
Uncertain
|
|
Warnings include a picture or graphic
Yes
|
Warnings required to rotate
Required
|
|
% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
80%
|
Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
Yes
|
|
Front
80%
|
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
Yes
|
|
Back
80%
|
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
Yes
|
| TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
|---|---|
| PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) |
|
In country currency
1600.00
LKR
|
Total taxes
67%
|
|
In US dollars
4.43
USD
|
Total excise
54%
|
Sources:
SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org
Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023. Available at: www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/tobacco-control/global-tobacco-report-2023
Last updated: February 11, 2024