In Sri Lanka tobacco and alcohol entered in both through airfreight and sea freight. Some could be in legal approach and some could be in illegal. Tobacco-related product and alcohol-related products which comes under the legal form can be monitored by the relevant officials in the ports and the Airports.

Main legal body who is authorized to check and observe the transaction of tobacco and alcoholic products are “Sri Lanka Custom” and “Excise Department”. When it comes to the ports and airports Sri Lanka customs hold the legal position inside the borders of the Airports and Ports, while Excise department hold the authorizations to act on at beyond the outside of the premises

Below mentioned duties are performed by the quarantine unit which attached to the Ministry of Health, nutrition and indigenous medicine.

Airport Health Office

  • Passenger medical assessment for communicable diseases
  • Maintaining the communicable disease surveillance system  
  • Dead body clearance
  • Monitoring of  disinfection and disinfection of aircraft
  • Routine monitoring and supervision of premises  for  sanitation
  • Inspection of food establishment
  • Public health emergency management
  • Training of public health staff and students

Port Health Office Colombo

  • Passenger medical assessment for communicable diseases
  • Maintaining the communicable disease surveillance system  
  • Granting pratique to ships
  • Dead body clearance
  • Issue  of ship sanitation certificates
  • Routine monitoring and supervision of premises  for  sanitation
  • Inspection of food establishment
  • Public health emergency management
  • Training of public health staff and students

Assistance port health office at Medical Research Institute

  • Vaccinations are given for travellers who request Yellow Fever, Meningococcal and Oral Polio vaccines
  • Issue of International Vaccine cards
  • Provide health education to travellers who request vaccines and refer them to necessary facilities if needed ( eg: travellers are referred to Anti Malaria Campaign if need to get Malaria Prophylaxis)

The programme for the quarantine unit Officers in the ports and Airports was conducted by the NATA on 6th November 2019 in the Sri Lankan Foundation Institute. The Participants have included the Medical officers of Health and Public Health Officers who work in ports and Airports around Sri Lanka.

The program was started with the welcome speech conducted by the Director of the quarantine unit Dr Arnold. It was followed by the speech by Dr Palitha Abeykoon which was about the “Role of NATA & objectives of the workshop. The presentation includes the initiation and development of the NATA and how its work has effect for the community.

The second session was done by Dr Thilina which was about Reducing Tobacco and Alcohol Harm. The session was conducted related to the mental health of the users and its negative effect on the consumers.

According to the request of the Quarantine unit, a session about the Excise acts also included in the workshop. The session was conducted by a representative officer from the excise Department. The session attracts almost all participants’ attention and the active participation was highly observed in this session.

International convention laws and programs on addressing tobacco and alcohol session were done by Dr Sajeewa Ranaweera.

A session about NATA act was conducted by NATA legal officer Mr. Chanaka Kulathunga.

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