Profile
Sri Lanka Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Sri Lanka Background
Profile
Sri Lanka Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2025-06-19

Traditional smokeless tobacco in Sri Lanka is banned, and it is illegal to sell these products. Despite the ban, as of 2020, Sri Lanka had approximately 2.1 million current users of traditional smokeless tobacco, with an adult prevalence rate of 13.4%. It use among men was significantly higher with 23.4%, compared to 4.9% among women.

Prevalence

References:
  1. 1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-lka.pdf?sfvrsn=6a3d75ad_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-lka.pdf?sfvrsn=6a3d75ad_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019-20; National, ages 15+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Adults survey: Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019-20; National, ages 15+

Regulation

References:
  1. 1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/sri-lanka/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 28 May 2025. 2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-lka.pdf?sfvrsn=6a3d75ad_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025.

Availability

References:
  1. 1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/sri-lanka/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 28 May 2025. 2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-lka.pdf?sfvrsn=6a3d75ad_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.