Failing to fulfil its mandate by advising the government to invent new policies to curtail smoking and drinking, an Opposition MP slammed the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) saying they do not do their duty well.

Opposition Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana speaking at the Friday’s Finance Ministry budget debate pointed out the fact that the objective, for which the NATA was formed, has not been fulfilled by today.

He said one of the chief reasons why the NATA was formed, is to formulate means to reduce the consumption of tobacco and alcohol in the country.

Under the Section 14 of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act No.27 of 2006, the body should research and gather information to introduce ways and means to reduce smoking and drinking in the country and advise the government in doing so.

“This is not happening today as the government’s policy on imposing taxes on the length of the cigarettes is not successful. taxing on the cigarettes in length of less than 60mm has reduced owing to this size and the government’s expectations are not fulfilled,” he said.

MP Pathirana said annually about 2.3 billion sticks of cigarettes are sold in Sri Lanka and about three billion sticks of Beedi are sold.

By introducing types of cigarettes with reduced size or length, the companies have managed to earn much on their products with comparatively less tax revenue to the government.

“NATA has become a ‘white elephant’ today, with the original purpose of its existence is not served and we will demand the authorities to get their act together fast,” he said. (KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA)