Sale of three flavoured cigarette products stopped with immediate effect

• This step has been taken since November 17

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and  Ajith Siriwardana   

The sale of three types of flavoured cigarette products distributed by Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) has been stopped with immediate effect. 

  Accordingly, the sale of Dunhill Switch, Dunhill Double Capsule and John Player Gold Pro Cool cigarettes has been stopped. This step has been taken since November 17.   
The case was filed by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) in Matara, Colombo and Anuradhapura on September 1, 2016, in terms of the Gazette notification 1982 (33).   
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reported that the CTC has informed its retail dealers to immediately stop the sale of these cigarettes and to remove these cigarette packets if they are displayed to the customers in the shops.   

According to the NATA Act, the regulations were made by the former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne under Section 30 read with Section 33 of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006.   

According to the gazette, smokeless tobacco products or mixtures that contain tobacco Any flavoured, coloured, or sweetened cigarette that contains tobacco or any electronic cigarette that contains tobacco is prohibited.   

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday in Parliament that the Court of Appeal had delivered its verdict on the cases filed by the NATA regarding the suspension of selling and distribution of the said flavoured tobacco items.   

He claimed that the verdict had been delivered orally and that it had not been uploaded in its website.   
Therefore, he urged the Justice Minister to look into the matter.   

Premadasa said the CTC also had filed a case against the NATA in the Court of Appeal and that having considered all the cases.