Health minister delivers fighting talk

Sri Lanka’s health minister, Maithripala Sirisena, has said he is prepared to face up to any challenge that the fight against smoking might throw up, according to a story in the Daily News.

Addressing a gathering after an “anti-smoking walk” in Colombo on Monday, he said, “No one will be able to stop our fight against smoking.”

“I have many challenges and threats as the health minister, but my effort to save over 20,000 Sri Lankans who die annually due to smoking will not be stopped,” he added.

The story said that laws were being prepared that would require cigarette manufacturers to include graphic health warnings covering 80 percent of packs.

It wasn’t clear whether this meant 80 percent of the total surface area, or 80 percent of one or more sides.