Speaking to delegates from 23 nations on Monday, President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated the government’s commitment to effective and efficient alcohol prevention policies.

The IOGT International Celebration Conference got underway in Kandy today, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Ninety three delegates from foreign nations are attending the conference this year.

The president noted that 80% of pictorial warnings on all tobacco packs have been implemented and very recently the taxes of tobacco has been increased as it is one of the most effective ways of discouraging initiation

The President recalled his days of working with the ADIC (Alcohol and Drug Information Centre) as a young opposition Member of Parliament in the 1980s, as well as the challenges faced when implementing pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs in Sri Lanka

He also expressed that this conference would initiate fruitful dialogue among all the delegates and contribute towards more effective and efficient alcohol prevention and policies.

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