Tobacco smoking in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, smoking is legally allowed but there are some restrictions in place for tobacco products including cigarettes. Under these regulations, the sale and use of cigarettes are legal, and importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. Tobacco advertising is regulated, imposing a complete ban on all forms of advertising. Purchasing tobacco products including cigarettes through online channels is permitted; however, sales from vending machines are prohibited. Additionally, the law requires health warnings on all packaging, sets a minimum legal age of 21 years for sales, and includes legal restrictions on smoking in public places. A total taxation rate of 66.92% with a specific excise tax rate of 53.88% are applied on cigarettes.

The prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older shows a notable trend over recent years in Sri Lanka. As of 2024, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking in the adult population was recorded to be 12.9%. This figure represents a slight increase from12.3% reported in 2020 and a slight decrease from 13.8% recorded in 2019. The data also indicate that 26.6% of males and 0.5% of females were current smokers in 2024. This marks a slight increase in smoking prevalence among males from 25.9% in 2020 but a decrease from 27.4% in 2019. However, smoking prevalence among females shows an increase from 0.2% in 2020. The increase in smoking rates corresponds with an increase in the number of smokers, from 2.2 million in 2020 to 2.3 million in 2022. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2020 was 6.4% overall, with a daily prevalence of 13.9% among males.

Despite these reductions, smoking-related mortality remains a concern in Sri Lanka, with 11,935 deaths recorded in 2021. The annual percentage of overall deaths attributable to smoking in 2021 was 7.53%, with a higher impact on males (10.95%) compared to females (3.38%). These statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Sri Lanka and necessitate concerted efforts in reducing smoking prevalence and associated health impacts.