Sri Lanka to impose huge warnings

Sri Lanka’s parliament on Tuesday unanimously approved the imposition of graphic health warnings covering the top 80 percent of the front and back of cigarette packs, cartons and other packaging, according to a story in The Island.

The regulations were presented to parliament under the provisions of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act by the government on Jan. 24, 2012.

They state that no packaging of any tobacco product shall contain false messages about the health hazards of using tobacco.

And they require, in addition to the graphic messages, written warnings stating that smoking makes children ill, smoking causes heart diseases, smoking causes cancer and smoking causes sexual impotence.

In addition, no packs will be able to carry—even given that there were room for such—descriptors such as “low,” “light,” “ultra,” “mild” or “extra.”