Sri Lankan Universities and Global Health Partners Unite to Advance Tobacco Smoking Cessation Strategies

Leading universities, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and global health organizations will come together on 14 May 2026 for a high-level roundtable discussion and press conference on “Strategies to Enhance Cessation of Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka” at Dukes Court 2, Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo.

The event is organized under the Global Health RESPIRE Project, an international initiative dedicated to reducing the burden of respiratory diseases and improving health outcomes in vulnerable populations across Asia. The session will highlight evidence-based strategies and collaborative approaches aimed at strengthening tobacco smoking cessation efforts in Sri Lanka. 

The project will be presented by Sri Lankan RESPIRE partner institutions, including the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Peradeniya, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University. 

The discussion will bring together a distinguished panel of participants including the Honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, senior officials from the Ministry of Health, representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), clinicians, university academics, members of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), and representatives from non-governmental organizations including ADIC, Sarvodaya, and CCT. 

RESPIRE, co-led by the University of Edinburgh and Universiti Malaya, is a multi-country collaboration involving partners from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom. The initiative focuses on delivering low-cost, scalable policy and clinical interventions to reduce respiratory disease and related deaths across Asia. 

The RESPIRE Project is funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) using UK international development funding to support global health research and innovation. 

This event aims to strengthen dialogue among policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and civil society organizations while encouraging collaborative action towards a healthier, smoke-free future for Sri Lanka.

Dr. Manoj Fernando - Dean Applied Sciences of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, 

Prof. Duminda Yasaratne - RESPIRE project Co-lead

Prof. Dushantha Madegedara - RESPIRE project Co-lead

Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni - Hon. Deputy Minister of Health

Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav - World Health Organisation Resident Representative to Sri Lanka

Prof. Savithri Wimalasekara - RESPIRE project Co-lead

Dr. Prasanna Herath - Senior lecturer of Kothalawala Defence University