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Prof. Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, the Executive Secretary of ASH Thailand reported that the Minister of the Ministry of Heath, Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena revealed in an interview that international tobacco companies had offered him bribes to abolish legislation enlarging health warnings to 80% on cigarette packs which the Supreme Court recently approved for implementation and law enforcement since 20 September 2014.
This news was published in the Daily News, Sri Lanka dated 25 September 2014 stating that the Minister of the Ministry of Heath, Sri Lanka had been offered bribes of sufficient value for him to purchase real estate for 15 generations of his descendants in the most beautiful areas of the country. Representatives of tobacco companies attempted to contact him at Parliament or in his office or home. However, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena refused to meet them since he has committed to have no conversations with representatives of tobacco companies.

Mr. Maithripala Sirisena said that in the past whoever fought with international tobacco companies would be murdered, but he was taking that risk. Though driving legislation to enlarge health warnings on packs to 80% will undoubtedly affect his future political life, he will not surrender to tobacco companies because there are numerous organizations, including various departments, encouraging him. The Ceylon Tobacco Company, a subsidiary of the British American Tobacco (BAT), sued in Civil Court; but the Civil Court dismissed the case brought by the tobacco company. This case has now been appealed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. In the meantime, BAT is one of three international tobacco companies along with Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International (JIT) who have sued in the Administrative Court of Thailand aiming to eradicate the legislation of the Ministry of Public Health expanding Thai tobacco pictorial health warnings to 85% on cigarette packs.

Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has been a representative of the Sri Lanka Government Party since 1986, and he also received a special award on World No Tobacco Day this year from the director of the World Health Organization. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena and Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong (Public Health Minister of Thailand), both driving legislation to expand tobacco pictorial health warnings, are currently being sued by international tobacco companies.

Request additional information, please contact :
Prof. Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, Action on Smoking and Health Foundation (ASH Thailand)
Tel.: 0-2278-1828 / 08-1822-9799