Authorities Warn Youth Against E-Cigarette Addiction

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka marked World No Tobacco Day with a national event in Colombo today, led by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

The significance of the global observance, declared by the World Health Organization and commemorated annually on May 31, was highlighted through the special ceremony. 

The event aimed to draw national attention to the urgent need to reduce tobacco-related deaths and safeguard future generations from nicotine addiction.

This year’s global theme, “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”, highlights growing concerns over the evolving strategies used by tobacco companies to sustain their market, particularly through new-age products.

The Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, Specialist Dr. Ananda Rathnayake, pointed out that tobacco consumption continues to be a major driver of non-communicable illnesses, emphasising the urgent need for stronger public awareness and regulatory action.

He warned that the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing tactics are designed to attract the younger generation, often presenting products like e-cigarettes as safer alternatives despite growing evidence of their harmful effects.