Colombo, Sept 24 Consumption of tobacco and related products claims 5.4 million lives annually throughout the world, of which 27,000 lives are lost in Sri lanka.
The worldwide death toll is projected to rise to eight million by 2030 due to the rise in tobacco use and the bulk of it would take place in the developing countries, a leading NGO said here.

"While 5.4 million persons lose their lives worldwide due to use of tobacco related products every year, in Sri Lanka 27,000 people die due to its consumption every year", Gallage Punyawardana of Swarna Hansa Foundation said.

Pressing for the implementation of the Global Tobacco Treaty, which requires ratifying countries to protect their health policies from interference by "Big Tobacco," he said it could help prevent about 200 million lives by the year 2050.

'Big tobacco' is a term often applied to the tobacco industry in general or to the big tobacco producing corporations of the world.

"We aim to expedite the implementation of the global tobacco treaty and reinforce the courageous work of the people to protect innocent lives," he told a gathering here.

The ratification of the treaty are among the steps being taken by 25 countries including Sri Lanka to contain the disease due to tobacco consumption.

"The event in Sri Lanka will include several programmes including the release of Protection Against Tobacco Industry Interference and the Global Tobacco Treaty Action produced by Corporate Accountability International (CIA) along with the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT)" the campaigner added. (Agencies)