sri lanka bans tobacco adverts (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

             Saturday, June 13, 1998 Published at 15:05 GMT 16:05 UK


             World: South Asia

             Tobacco and alcohol
             adverts banned in Sri Lanka



             The Sri Lankan government has announced a complete
             media ban on the advertising of tobacco and alcohol. 

             The ban, due to come into force at the beginning of next
             year, applies directly to the state media. 

             But private broadcasters are also being told to follow the
             policy. 

             It's not clear if sporting events and billboards are
             included. 

             A presidential task force has also recommended that
             television programmes should avoid scenes of smoking
             and drinking. 

             The health minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the BBC
             that the alarming rise in tobacco and alcohol
             consumption in Sri Lanka was one of its biggest health
             hazards. 

             From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
                                                                           Saturday 13, June 1998 Daily News (Sri Lanka) 

Taboo on alcohol and tobacco ads from January '99

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has directed the Media
Ministry to instruct all state media including print media not to accept
advertisements of alcohol and tobacco from January 1, next year.

She has also directed the ministry to instruct the authorities concerned
to abide by the Rupavahini and the SLBC codes of ethics which disallow
promotion of alcohol and tobacco products.

The President has pointed out that the ministry could take appropriate
action as provided for in the licence issued to private broadcasters to
ensure that they fall in line with the government policy on tobacco and
alcohol.

The President in a letter addressed to Posts, Telecommunications and Media
Minister Mangala Samaraweera has suggested that the Media Ministry take
the responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the
Presidential Task Force on Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit drugs regarding
the media.

One of the major recommendations of the Task Force has emphasised the need
to avoid scenes, portrayals and references to alcohol and tobacco and
illicit drug use in promotive and attractive ways in media accessible to
children."

The President in her letter has also asked Mr. Samaraweera to implement
her policy directives without delay and also to submit to her a detailed
action plan based on the instructions in her letter, before June 15.

Following are excerpts from the President's letter addressed to Mr. 
Samaraweera:

"My attention has been drawn to the promotion of alcohol and tobacco use
via the media, through advertising, and through portrayals in teledramas.
I have been informed that such promotion is becoming more common in recent
months especially in the electronic media, both in government owned and
privately owned radio and television channels.

"Last month, the European Parliament voted to ban all tobacco advertising
and sponsorship in the European Union. Several countries in the EU such as
France, Finland, Sweden already have such bans in place. In our region
Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Maldive Islands, Malaysia, Australia and
New Zealand are some of countries with similar restrictions. Similar bans
are expected very soon in India and South Africa.

"Therefore the current trend in promotion of tobacco and alcohol products
in Sri Lanka is a negative reflection on our government and the media, as
the current world-wide trend is to restrict such promotion. 

"The Rupavahini code of ethics of advertising on television of 1982 which
sets the guidelines for television advertising in Sri Lanka, specifically
prohibits advertisements for products or services coming within the
recognised character of, or specifically concerned with cigarettes, liquor
and alcoholic beverages. The equivalent code of ethics for radio
broadcasting, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation code of ethics of
1994 contains similar recommendations on advertising tobacco and alcohol
products.

"Both these codes, are apparently being increasingly flouted during the
last year or so by both government and private stations, under various
pretexts and inappropriate interpretations which contravene the letter as
well as the spirit of this code.  An advertisement is an advertisement
whether it promotes a product or an image or a logo or a company
associated with alcohol and tobacco.

"This is an unacceptable situation, where the democratic and open-minded
approach of our government towards the media is being used to achieve
commercial gains by promoting products that are known to cause tremendous
social, economic and health harm in our country. I would like to suggest
that immediate steps be taken to reverse this state of affairs.

"The Task Force also recommends that guidelines be given to the media on
the necessity of playing a positive role in reversing the attractiveness
and positive social symbolism attached to the use of these substances.

"I understand that the delegates of this Task Force met you some time ago
to outline the recommendations regarding the media. Now, as the Cabinet of
Ministers has accepted the recommendations of this Task Force in
principle, steps need to be taken to implement these recommendations
immediately. Steps are already being taken to bring legislation regarding
these recommendations before parliament soon."


                        Copyright © 1996 The Associated Newspapers of
Ceylon Limited