On September 2013, H.E. Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong, Minister of Public Health of Thailand, visited Sri Lanka to congratulate Hon. Mr. Maithreepala Sirisena, Minister of Public Health of Sri Lanka for receiving World Health Organization’s Anti – Tobacco Day Award 2013 from H.E. Mr. Mahinda  Rajapaksa, the Sri Lanka President, at Bandaranayaike Memorial International Conference (BMICH)

This year, WHO has conferred the global award on both Thai and Sri Lanka Public Health Minister for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control in their countries. This award is a measure of strengthening its anti – tobacco campaign to eradicate smoking throughout the world.

In the award giving ceremony to his Si Lanka counterpart, Thai Public Health Minister make a remark about cigarette control policy in Thailand. He stated that smoking is the largest preventable health threat for Thailand and Sri Lanka. Each year 6 million people around the world passes away due to smoking related illness. Over 50 percent of the deceased are caused by smoking – related illness such as heart disease, lung cancer, and coronary artery disease.

He also expressed his concern about smoking myths that tobacco companies try to propagate to get new smokers such as trendiness and safeness. Presently, 45.6 percent of Thai men and 2.5 of Thai women smokes while 29.9 percent of Sri Lanka males and 1 percent of Sri Lanka females consumes cigarette.

Nevertheless, Thai Minister Strongly believed that the anti – tobacco campaign of Thailand and Sri Lanka, which is in accordance with WHO’s regulation, can save a lot of lives. Both countries have introduced large pictorial warnings on tobacco packaging to prevent the newcomers and to discourage smokers.