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ADIC urges presidential candidates to address drug, alcohol issues

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The Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) has put forward 12 key recommendations for the upcoming presidential candidates, focusing on tackling the pressing issues related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in Sri Lanka.
These recommendations emphasize the need for strong policies and actions to address the economic, health, and social challenges associated with substance abuse.

ADIC highlights that alcohol and drug use in Sri Lanka contribute significantly to premature deaths, with smoking and alcohol responsible for nearly 100 deaths daily. The Ministry of Health reports that 8 out of 10 preventable deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, two of the major factors being smoking and alcohol use. Alarmingly, individuals in Sri Lanka spend around 121 crore rupees daily on alcohol and smoking, creating a heavy economic burden.

ADIC stresses that the government is losing more than it gains from taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. For instance, while the excise revenue from alcohol in 2022 was 165 billion rupees, the associated health and economic costs totaled 237 billion rupees. A similar trend is seen in cigarette taxes, where the 88 billion rupees collected in 2016 were outweighed by health costs amounting to 214 billion rupees.

Ahead of the September 21 presidential election, ADIC has proposed the following recommendations for candidates to include in their manifestos:

  1. Introduce a scientific tax formula to increase excise duties on alcohol and cigarettes annually, reflecting inflation and economic growth.
  2. Develop a system to collect taxes already owed by tobacco and alcohol companies and prevent future tax evasion.
  3. Strengthen and enforce existing laws to reduce alcohol and tobacco promotion and consumption, including banning the sale of single cigarettes and restricting sales near schools and religious institutions.
  4. Stop issuing temporary liquor licenses and restrict liquor licenses granted under tourism pretexts.
  5. Implement the National Policy on Alcohol Control approved in 2016.
  6. Boost law enforcement efforts to combat illegal alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
  7. Launch a national prevention program aimed at youth to discourage substance use.
  8. Expand counseling and support services for those struggling with alcohol and tobacco addiction, including enhancing the “1948” Quit Line.
  9. Fulfill commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
  10. Introduce a licensing system for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products.
  11. Prevent interference from the tobacco and alcohol industries in policy-making.
  12. Educate the public on the dangers of cannabis use and enact laws to counter media promotion of it.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Court order issued against ‘Eh Yaye’ song

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The Commercial High Court has issued an interim injunction order, preventing popular artistes Romaine Willis and Mass Ramli Miskin (DJ Mass) from performing, reproducing and distributing the song ‘Eh Yaye’.

Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Priyantha Fernando issued the order after the Plaint filed under the Intellectual Property Act by popular singer Corrine Almeida.

The case also alleges that the musical composition and the lyrics of the song ‘Eh Yaye’ were substantially similar to the song ‘Api Natamu’.

Naming Willis and DJ Mass as defendants,  the plaintiff Corrine Almeida had also stated that she is the owner of the copyright and economic rights to the musical composition and lyrics of her song titled “Api Natamu”.

The plaintiff instituted action in terms of the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003 alleging that the musical composition and the lyrics of ‘Eh Yaye’ were substantially similar to the ‘Api Natamu’ song.

(Source : Dailymirror.lk)

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Rains expected in several areas today

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Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 02), the Department of Meteorology said.

A few showers may occur in the Jaffna and Mannar districts.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

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IMF Executive Board approves Sri Lanka’s 4th review

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The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the authorities to draw about US$350 million, said Evan Papageorgiou, IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka.

This brings the total IMF financial support disbursed so far to about US$1.74 billion.

“The EFF arrangement for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Board on March 20, 2023 in an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion). The program supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to durably restore macroeconomic stability by (i) restoring fiscal and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, (ii) safeguarding price and financial sector stability, (iii) rebuilding external buffers, (iv) strengthening governance and reducing corruption vulnerabilities, and (v) enhancing growth-oriented structural reforms.”

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