• Comm. made up of Edu.-Child Affairs-Health Mins.-Police discuss same
• Babul among substances likely to be banned, Justice Min. intervention expected  

The issue of rising electronic-cigarette/vape use among schoolchildren has come to the attention of the multi-party mechanism established to address issues pertaining to children, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana said that the mechanism brings together the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and the Police. 

He said that the relevant committee, which convened for the first time a few days ago, discussed the issue of the increasing use of e-cigarettes among schoolchildren. 

“E-cigarettes are already a banned item. As there are reports of them being used by schoolchildren, this mechanism has paid attention to it. In addition, the Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Ministry will also prepare programmes to tackle harmful influences within the school system,” he said.

Dr. Sudarshana further said that proposals had been made before the said mechanism to designate several other items such as babul as prohibited substances. 

“We have proposed to ban other similar substances such as babul. No final decision has been taken, but the matter has been flagged for further discussion. The Ministry of Justice and National Integration will also intervene at this stage,” he went on to say.

The discussion on this matter comes against the backdrop of growing concern over the rising use of e-cigarettes among students. The Ceylon Teachers’ Union and the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors recently urged the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, and Health to take action to curb harmful behaviour among children, particularly the spread of vaping.