The Tobacco and Alcohol Act will be effective in full force from 1 December in Sri Lanka.

Health and nutrition minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced that arrangements have been made to enact the act with a gazette notification on 1 December and the bill will be in force from the same day.
Smoking and drinking in public transport buses and densely populated areas will be prohibited under the act. The bill also prohibits the display of billboards with smoking or drinking related advertising material, Silva said. The government is determined to clamp down hard on those who violate these regulations. (sra)