Officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau Katunayake Airport Sub‑Unit have arrested a suspect attempting to smuggle 220 cartons of foreign cigarettes into the country.

The raid was carried out at the arrival terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last night (13) following a tip‑off. 

Officials intercepted the suspect in possession of 44,000 foreign cigarettes illegally brought into Sri Lanka.

The suspect, identified as a 35‑year‑old Indian national, was taken into custody.

The Police Narcotics Bureau Airport Unit has launched further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Thirteen shop owners have been prosecuted before the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court for selling cigarettes to underage school students and tuition class pupils.

According to the Police, the cases were filed following information obtained by Division Intelligence Unit officers, who investigated shops within the Kilinochchi town limits on June 28.

The Court imposed fines of Rs. 20,000 each on 11 shop owners, while warrants were issued against two who failed to appear.

The Kilinochchi Police said further investigations are underway into the illegal sale of cigarettes to minors. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have arrested a foreign national attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettes valued at Rs. 4,200,000 into the country.

The suspect, identified as a business employee, arrived on a China Eastern Airlines flight at 7.11 pm yesterday (28) and was stopped at the Green Channel arrival terminal.

A search of the passenger’s luggage uncovered 140 cartons of foreign cigarettes (28,000 sticks) concealed inside. Customs staff immediately intercepted the contraband.

The goods have been forfeited under prevailing regulations, with further inquiries underway. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a diverse consignment of items, including foreign cigarettes, pesticides, and perfumes, suspected of being smuggled into the country. 

According to the navy, the recovery was made during a coastal security operation conducted on Wednesday (24), along the Vellai beach area of Delft Island. The operation was mounted by SLNS Wasaba, under the Northern Naval Command.

While patrolling the coastal stretch of the Vellai beach, naval personnel discovered 06 suspicious sacks. A thorough inspection of the packages led to the recovery of several products, including 500 packets of foreign cigarettes, 2,295 packets of pesticides, 2,569 packs of medicinal ointments, 165 packs of cosmetic creams and 64 bottles of perfume.

Following the seizure, the confiscated items were handed over to the Delft Police Station for further legal proceedings and investigation. (Newswire)

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Thirteen Chinese nationals have been taken into custody at the Katunayake Airport after officials seized a large stock of foreign cigarettes valued at over Rs. 28 million.

Customs officials said the group had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, on two flights. 

They were intercepted at the arrival terminal carrying 22 travel bags, inside which officers discovered 189,600 cigarettes.

The consignment is estimated to be worth Rs. 28,440,000. 

Airport authorities confirmed that the suspects are businessmen aged between 28 and 45 years. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs officers at Katunayake Airport (BIA) have intercepted 14 Chinese nationals attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettes valued at Rs. 20,730,000 into the country.

The suspects, all identified as business employees, arrived at 1:30 am today (28) and were stopped at the Green Channel arrival terminal during a targeted inspection.

A thorough examination of their baggage revealed 691 cartons of foreign cigarettes (138,200 sticks) concealed inside 14 pieces of luggage.

Customs officials confirmed that the contraband has been forfeited under existing regulations, and further investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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Customs officers at Katunayake Airport have arrested three Chinese businessmen for attempting to smuggle a large stock of foreign‑made cigarettes into Sri Lanka early this morning (25).

The suspects, aged 31, 36, and 40, were apprehended while trying to pass through the Green Channel without declaring the goods. 

Investigations revealed that the cigarettes had been purchased in China, transported via Kuala Lumpur, and brought into Sri Lanka concealed in six pieces of luggage.

Officials discovered 202 cartons containing 40,000 cigarettes, with the total consignment valued at approximately Rs. 6.6 million.

The suspects are currently in Customs custody at Katunayake Airport, while further investigations into the incident are ongoing. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have intercepted an Indian national attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettes valued at Rs. 5,040,000 into the country.

The suspect, a 26‑year‑old business employee, arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, at 11.28 pm yesterday (14).

He was stopped at the Green Channel arrival terminal during a targeted inspection by Customs staff.

A thorough examination of his checked baggage revealed 168 cartons of foreign cigarettes (33,600 sticks) concealed inside two pieces of luggage.

Customs officials confirmed that the contraband has been forfeited under existing regulations, and further investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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A proposal to make all children born after 2010 a tobacco-free generation has been formally handed over to the Minister of Health, signalling a decisive step in Sri Lanka’s fight against tobacco and alcohol-related harm.

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) presented the concept paper, backed by scientific research, to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and the Ministry of Health for legal action. 

The document, prepared under the leadership of NATA Chairman Specialist Dr. Ananda Ratnayake and LL Amila Isuru of Rajarata University’s Faculty of Medicine, also included recommendations to amend and strengthen the NATA Act.  

The proposals highlight two key measures:

• Updating existing regulations under the NATA Act.
• Denying access to tobacco products for all individuals born after a set age limit, aligning Sri Lanka with global trends where similar laws have already been adopted.

Minister Jayatissa welcomed the initiative, stressing that tobacco and alcohol remain major obstacles to building a healthier future for children. He instructed NATA to provide detailed provisions for legislative amendments.

Dr. Ratnayake underscored the urgency, noting that nearly 80% of deaths in Sri Lanka stem from non-communicable diseases, with tobacco and alcohol as leading causes. Globally, tobacco use claims around 8 million lives annually, including 7 million from direct consumption and 10% from passive smoking. Alcohol use contributes significantly to mortality and health burdens as well.

Sri Lanka faces an estimated 22,000 deaths each year due to tobacco and alcohol, alongside severe economic and social costs. Both substances are also identified as gateways to other drugs.

LL Amila Isuru warned of rising cigarette use among schoolchildren and the heavy toll on public health expenditure. 

He emphasized that reducing prevalence and restricting access remain the most effective strategies to protect future generations. (Newswire)

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A 47‑year‑old man was arrested at a house in Wellampitiya yesterday for the possession of 165,200 Manchester‑type cigarettes illegally imported into the country, valued at Rs. 16.52 million.

The suspect was arrested during a joint raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Army and the Rajagiriya Police Special Task Force.

According to the Sri Lanka Army, further investigations are being carried out by the Wellampitiya Police Station. (Newswire)

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A stock of illegally imported cigarettes worth Rs. 330 million has been seized along with five suspects following a raid in Wellampitiya. 

Among the suspects are three employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Officials from the Special Investigation Unit of the Excise Department carried out the raid in the Wellampitiya area.

The Excise Department stated that a total of 2,030,000 cigarettes were thus taken into official custody. (Newswire)

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A businessman has been arrested by police in Thanamalwila on suspicion of selling imported cigarettes to schoolchildren in the area.

According to the Police, the businessman had provided flavoured cigarettes to a student for resale.

One cigarette had been sold to the student for Rs. 100, and the student had then resold it at school for Rs. 200.

Following a tip-off from another student to the principal, the student selling the cigarettes was questioned, and two imported cigarettes were found in his possession.

Subsequently, based on a report to the Thanamalwila Police Inspector, the business premises were raided. 

Police seized 690 cigarettes and Rs. 3,600,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from cigarette sales.

The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Two suspects have been arrested at the Katunayake Airport for the possession of narcotics and a stock of imported cigarettes.

A 39-year-old man from Colombo was arrested with 1.48 grams of Kush Cannabis, 2.44 grams of ICE, and 190mg of heroin last night. 

The man was arrested during a raid conducted by officials of the Customs Narcotics Control Unit based on information from the Police Narcotics officials at the airport. 

He has been identified as a 39-year-old resident of Colombo 14. 

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man has been arrested with 22 cartons of imported cigarettes at the Katunayake Airport this morning.

He was detected based on information received by Police Narcotics Officials at the airport. 

The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Thalavila. (Newswire)

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Officials of the Finance Ministry presented the steps taken to increase excise duty on cigarettes before the Committee on Public Finance coming under the Order under Section 3 of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, No. 13 of 1989. 

The officials of the Ministry of Finance made this presentation during the meeting of the Committee on Public Finance held on 11.03.2025 in Parliament, chaired by (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Hon. Member of Parliament.

The Committee stated that the increase in the excise duty on cigarettes cannot be approved without concrete data and emphasized the need for justification regarding the steps taken to increase the excise duty on cigarettes at the previous Committee meeting held. Accordingly, it was also pointed out that studies conducted on excise revenue from cigarettes indicate that this calculation method has led to a decline in government revenue while increasing the profits of particular manufacturing companies. Therefore, the importance of ensuring that this tax revision would indeed be beneficial to government revenue was emphasized and consequently, was decided to reconsider following further clarifications from officials of the Ministry of Finance, regarding the excise duty increase.

Accordingly, following a discussion held at length, the Committee approved the Order under Section 3 of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, No. 13 of 1989.

Two Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 were also taken into consideration following which, approval was given.

Accordingly, Order under Section 5 of Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2417/20 sought to further extend the period of validity of the Special Levy that had already been imposed on 63 commodities including essential food items at the same rates after obtaining recommendations from the relevant line ministries. The Order under Section 5 of Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2421/03 sought to grant tax concessions for the dates imported to be distributed free of charge during Ramadan fasting period.

The Committee on Public Finance also took into consideration the protocol amending the Section 28(6) of the Agreement between the governments of Sri Lanka and the government of India for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income which was signed at the government level in India, on 16th December 2024 and approved the same.

This meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma and along with Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Wijesiri Basnayake, Arkam Ilyas, Nimal Palihena, and) Lakmali Hemachandra, (Attorney-at-Law). 

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The Alcohol and Drugs Information Centre (ADIC) says per a survey conducted in 2022, Sri Lankans spent Rs. 1,210 million per day for the use of alcohol and cigarettes.

Issuing a statement, ADIC said Rs. 510 million was spent on the consumption of arrack, Rs. 180 million for beer, and Rs. 520 million for cigarettes. 

The ADIC further said that an expense of Rs. 237 billion was reported in the Health and Economic sectors due to the use of alcohol and drugs, while a tax revenue of Rs. 165.2 billion was reported in 2022.

A total of 15,000 deaths are reported annually due to the consumption of alcohol, while 20,000 deaths annually are reported due to the use of cigarettes. 

The ADIC pointed out that there was an increase of 80% in the spread of non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka, of which consumption of alcohol and cigarettes were key causes. 

Following the 20% increase in taxes in 2023, the consumption of alcohol dropped by 8.3 million litres of alcohol, while tax revenue increased by Rs.11.6 billion.

Tax revenue from the sale of cigarettes increased by Rs. 7.7 billion, while cigarette sales dropped by 521.5 million units, ADIC added. (Newswire)

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The highest stock of illegally imported cigarettes to be destroyed by Sri Lanka Customs was carried out at a storage yard in Kerawalapitiya.

State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated the stock of illegally imported cigarettes was valued at Rs. 15 billion. 

The State Minister of Finance stated that there were 200 million sticks of cigarettes that had been confiscated by Sri Lanka Customs and that they had been illegally imported to the country in 2021. 

The State Minister also thanked Sri Lanka Customs for having helped the government save Rs. 13 million in state revenue. 

“These cigarettes cannot be sold as no one can vouch for its standard. The opened cigarette boxes contain cigarettes that are completely faded. This is why we have decided to destroy the stock,” he said.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya added that the cigarettes had been illegally imported by 3 companies which have been imposed a fine of Rs.2 5 million each. (NewsWire)

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