assistance for Sri Lanka

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Garrett Mehl of Johns Hopkins sends on the following request for
assistance.

Robert Weissman
Essential Information			|   Internet:	rob@essential.org


Dear tobacco-control colleagues,

Sri Lanka's anti-tobacco activists need your help!!

On the 1st of Jan. 1999, on the recommendations of a Presidential Task
Force, the Sri Lankan government is to ban all advertisements pertaining to
alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. 

Needless to say this decision came under fire from various breweries and
of course the CTC (Ceylon Tobacco Company, the BAT subsidiary and monopoly
in Sri Lanka). There were debates, discussions and also confrontations
between the Task Force and the tobacco/alcohol industries. The media had a
field day and as the days grow near as a final frenzied attempt, CTC was
"dishing" out full page ads in all popular news papers. To all who know
the tobacco industry tactics - this is nothing new! 

The Swarna Hansa Foundation along with other organizations is applying
pressure on the government to implement their decision stringently. On
past experience this tactic has been used by the government just before
elections, only to be conveniently forgotten later.

*** Dear friends we need your valuable support now. ***

Our government needs to know the importance of implementing this decision
and the way the world community feels at large. If the importance of this
tobacco ban can be powerfully and convincingly conveyed to Sri Lankan
political representatives, it would be a significant stepping stone to
obtaining a tobacco - free Sri Lanka. 

Please send your appeals to the following address:

Email via Swarna Hansa Foundation: shf@eureka.lk

Her Excellency The President,
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,
The Presidential Secretariat,
Temple Trees,
Colombo 1.
Sri Lanka.

Tel : (94) 1 436371, Fax : (94) 1 333703

Thanking you all for your support,

Sincerely,

Gallege Punyawardana Alwis,
Programme Executive,
SWARNA HANSA FOUNDATION


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garrett Mehl
Center for International Community-based Health Research
Department of International Health
Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
gmehl@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
Tel: (410) 685-8294
Fax:(410) 685-8295