The Police Headquarters states that raids have been commenced to seize packets of cigarettes being sold without the 60% pictorial warning on them.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said that such cigarette packets will be taken into police custody. He further added that legal action will be taken against shop vendors who sell cigarette packets that do not carry the 60% pictorial warning.

Meanwhile, cabinet approval has been granted to the bill put forward to increase the pictorial warning on cigarette packets to 80%. Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated that the bill will be tabled in Parliament during the next few days.

The minister also added that the authority put in place to assess this issue has recommended that these pictorial warnings are changed every six months.

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