The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) is working with the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to draft a proposal urging the government to ban cigarette filters, a major source of non-biodegradable waste in the country.
Dr. Ananda Ratnayake, Chairman of NATA, highlighted the environmental impact of cigarette filters, noting that around six million filters are discarded daily in Sri Lanka. “Their accumulation, particularly in water sources, poses a significant environmental threat. The disposal of cigarette filters into the environment is a growing problem,” he said.
Dr. Ratnayake added that the proposed ban would have multiple benefits, including environmental conservation and correcting the misconception that cigarette filters reduce health risks; in reality, they do not.
At the 11th Conference on Tobacco Control held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2025, Sri Lanka agreed to implement an international proposal to ban cigarette filters, in collaboration with the Clean Sri Lanka Project.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about tobacco company profits despite declining cigarette sales in the country. According to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), weak tax policies allow companies to continue earning high profits, even as consumption falls.
Sampath de Seram, Executive Director of ADIC, stated: “Tobacco consumption has been declining for years, yet profits continue to rise. In some cases, more than 50% of taxes effectively go back to tobacco companies.” He also criticized the 2026 budget for introducing no new measures to discourage tobacco production and consumption.
While the government seeks to boost revenue through tax reforms, critics argue that stronger measures are needed to curb tobacco use and protect public health. Attempts to engage the Finance Ministry on these issues have so far been unsuccessful.
