President orders VAT raise on tobacco but removal from private healthcare charges

Monday, 25 July 2016 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena said he had instructed the relevant authorities to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) on cigarettes and completely remove it from private hospital charges.

President Sirisena made this announcement while addressing the 104th anniversary ceremony of the Sri Lanka Temperance Council, held at the BMICH on Saturday (23).

Speaking at the event, President Sirisena stressed that he would take every possible measure to protect future generations from tobacco and drugs.

The President said he had instructed the National Security Council to establish special units in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Forces, intelligence Services, Police and Excise Authority to obtain information on illegal drugs and conduct raids.

He said strengthening the Treasury with the money from tobacco and alcohol sales was not the current Government's policy. He said its goal was to build a healthy nation with healthy people free from the ill effects of drinking and smoking.

A special list of proposals, prepared by the Temperance Movement based on the organisation's own studies and information compiled from seminars and discussions with other drug prevention and rehabilitation organisations, was presented to the President at the event.

Chairman of the Temperance Council and Chief Prelate of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samaggri Dharma Maha Sabha Ven. Ittepane Dhammalankara Thera, the Maha Sangha and the Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundera were also present at the event.