Sri Lanka, Jan. 28 -- An institutional review of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) and the Jaffna Teaching Hospital was conducted at the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Health, Mass Media and Women's Empowerment.

The committee met in Parliament on January 21 under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, according to the Department of Communication of Parliament.

During the review of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, officials informed the committee that approximately 22,000 deaths occur annually due to tobacco and alcohol consumption, resulting in an estimated economic loss of Rs. 225-240 billion each year.

They stated that steps are currently underway to amend the National A...