Hambantota women stage awareness protest in Colombo for Tobacco-Free Generation

Thursday, 1 October 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Over 300 women and mothers assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat last week demanding immediate Government action for the introduction and implementation of the proposed ‘Tobacco-Free Generation’ (TFG) policy in the country.

Organised by the Hambantota Women’s Development Federation (WDF), this gathering brought together women from various parts of the Hambantota District. This peaceful demonstration was held outside the Presidential Secretariat and culminated in the delegation presenting a request to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with almost 10,000 signatures, showing their support to urge the introduction of the TFG policy in order to safeguard the children of Sri Lanka from the harms of tobacco use.

TFG is a globally recognised public health framework that seeks to permanently phase out smoking. This proposal would ban the sale of all tobacco products to children born in or after 2010 which ensures that children turning 21 in 2031 will never legally be able to purchase tobacco. It was formally proposed to the Health Minister on two occasions by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) along with the SLMA once again submitted the proposal to introduce the TFG policy in Sri Lanka to the Minister. However, the proposal remains to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The women of the South gathered to make their voices heard on the enactment of the TFG proposal, undeterred by the adverse weather conditions currently impacting the island.