An open letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is calling on Sri Lanka's highest leadership to take a bold and historic step toward protecting future generations from the devastating health consequences of tobacco use. The appeal, signed by health advocates, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens, urges the President and the Minister of Health to formally adopt a Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) policy — one that would prohibit the sale of all tobacco products to any person born on or after January 1, 2010. The proposal represents one of the most forward-thinking public health initiatives ever considered in Sri Lanka, and its advocates believe it could serve as a landmark moment in the nation's health history.
What Is the Tobacco-Free Generation Policy?
The Tobacco-Free Generation policy is not an outright ban on tobacco in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a progressive, age-based restriction that gradually phases out tobacco use across the population by ensuring that younger generations never legally gain access to these products. Under the proposed policy, anyone born on or after January 1, 2010, would be permanently prohibited from purchasing tobacco products — regardless of their age at any future point in time. As years pass, this restriction would effectively create an entire generation of Sri Lankans who have never had legal access to cigarettes, bidis, smokeless tobacco, or any other tobacco-related product. The policy is described by its supporters as a "futuristic, step-wise commitment to the children of our nation," one that prioritizes long-term public health over short-term commercial interests.
Why Sri Lanka Needs This Policy Now
Sri Lanka has long struggled with the public health burden imposed by tobacco use. Tobacco-related diseases, including various cancers, cardiovascular conditions, and chronic respiratory illnesses, place an enormous strain on the country's healthcare system and economy. Despite existing regulations, tobacco products remain widely accessible, and the tobacco industry continues to target younger demographics through aggressive marketing strategies. Advocates argue that incremental measures have proven insufficient and that a generational approach is the only way to truly break the cycle of addiction and disease. The open letter emphasizes that the time for half-measures has passed, and that President Dissanayake's administration has a unique opportunity to lead the region — and potentially the world — by example.
Global Precedents Supporting the Proposal
Sri Lanka would not be venturing into entirely uncharted territory with such a policy. New Zealand became the first country in the world to pass a Smokefree Generations law in 2022, prohibiting tobacco sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. While that law was later repealed by a subsequent government, it demonstrated that such legislation is legally and practically achievable. Several other nations and regions have since explored similar frameworks, recognizing that traditional tobacco control methods — taxation, advertising bans, and public awareness campaigns — while valuable, are not sufficient on their own to eliminate tobacco use entirely. Sri Lanka's advocates point to these global developments as proof that a Tobacco-Free Generation policy is not a radical idea but a responsible evolution of public health governance.
The Appeal to President Dissanayake
The open letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is both respectful and urgent in its tone. Signatories acknowledge the many pressing challenges facing the administration but make a compelling case that public health investment yields enormous long-term economic and social dividends. By adopting the Tobacco-Free Generation policy, the President would be sending an unambiguous message that Sri Lanka's government prioritizes the well-being of its youngest citizens above the interests of the tobacco industry. The letter also calls on the Minister of Health to champion this cause within the cabinet and to work toward the necessary legislative framework that would make the policy enforceable and sustainable. Advocates stress that the policy would require robust implementation mechanisms, including age verification systems and meaningful penalties for violations, to be truly effective.
Broader Implications for Public Health in Sri Lanka
Beyond the direct health benefits, a Tobacco-Free Generation policy would carry significant economic advantages for Sri Lanka. Reduced healthcare costs, increased workforce productivity, and a healthier population overall would contribute positively to the nation's development goals. Furthermore, such a policy would strengthen Sri Lanka's standing in international health forums and align the country more closely with the goals of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), to which Sri Lanka is a signatory. Civil society groups are encouraging members of the public to support the appeal and to urge their elected representatives to back the initiative in parliament.
A Defining Moment for a New Generation
The appeal for a Tobacco-Free Generation policy in Sri Lanka represents more than a public health proposal — it is a moral statement about the kind of future the nation wishes to build for its children. As President Dissanayake's administration charts its course, this policy offers a rare opportunity to make a decision whose positive consequences will be felt for decades to come. The children of Sri Lanka deserve to grow up in a society that has chosen their health and future over the profits of an industry built on addiction. The call has been made — now the decision rests with those in power.