Sri Lanka seeks to ban cigarettes sales within 500 meter periphery from schools

COLOMBO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka seeks to ban the sale of cigarettes within a periphery of 500 meters from schools, Health Minister Rajith Senaratne said on Wednesday.

The minister said in a statement that the government had taken numerous steps to discourage smoking, and the latest would be to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within the periphery of 500 meters from schools.

Previously, the government introduced pictorial warning on packages. The World Health Organization also recognized it.

"Now, youths are giving up their smoking habit. Yet, tobacco companies seem to be targeting school children for their sales. This has to be stopped," he said.