President of the Cancer Association of Sri Lanka, Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa says that a person can build a home if they give up smoking for just one year. According to Dr. Rajapaksa, the cost of one cigarette today is Rs. 65 while brick is just Rs. 55. “If you give up smoking for one year you can build a house with the money saved,” he said. Rajapaksa made these comments at the press conference held yesterday in Colombo to mark the ‘World No Tabacco Day 2020’.
According to Rajapaksa Tabacco and related products is the main killer of the country’s economy. “If we can ban tobacco for at least a year it will be a major victory for the country,” he said.
Based on data from the Ministry of Health, the Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) notes that estimated annual mortality from tobacco-related illness is about 20, 000 deaths. A cigarette is said to be the only product, which kills one out of two consumers.
