Mangala Samaraweera

From TobaccoUnmasked

Background

Mangala Pinsiri Samaraweera was a politician and a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka from 1989 to 2020.[1]

Born in 21 April 1956, Samaraweera was educated at Royal College, Colombo. He obtained a degree in fashion and textile designing from Central Saint Martins in London.[2] His father, Mahanama Samaraweera was a lawyer, a politician and a former Cabinet Minister in Sri Lanka.[3] His mother is Khema Padmawathi and he has one elder brother and one elder sister.[4]

Political Career

He entered politics representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from Matara District in 1988 and entered to the Parliament in 1989.[5][1] In June 2007, he formed a political party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) with the support of former minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi.[6] He joined the United national Party after dissolving the SLFP (Mahajana) Wing in 2010.[7]

In March 2020, Samaraweera joined the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the political alliance comprised of 12 political parties led by Sajith Premadasa.[8][9] In June 2020, he publicly announced that he will not contest for the parliamentary election in August 2020, though his name was included in the nomination list of SJB. [10][11] Samaraweera launched his new political movement “True Patriot” on 6th August 2021, which reportedly focuses on “the importance of embracing liberal democratic values and maintaining a ‘radical’ middle path”.[12][13] This movement reportedly comprised politicians, professionals, civil society activists and entrepreneurs, including Chinthana Dharmadasa.[14]

Please visit our pages on Chinthana Dharmadasa and True Patriot for more details.

Mangala Samaraweera passed away on 24 August 2021 at the age of 65 years as a complication of COVID 19 infection.[15][16]

Image 1: Mangala Samaraweera[17]

Political/Government Positions Held

  • Member of Parliament – 15 February 1989 to 02 March 2020[1]
  • Minister of Finance - February 2019 to November 2019[18]
  • Minister of Finance and Mass media – December 2018 to February 2019[18]
  • Vice Chairman of UNP – June 2018 [19]
  • Minister of Finance and Media – May 2017 – November 2018[5]
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs - January 2015- May 2017 and November 2005 - January 2007[20]
  • Minister of Ports and Aviation - April 2004 - November 2005[21]
  • Minister of Information and Media - April 2004 – June 2005[22]
  • Deputy Minister of Education - April 2004 – Nov. 2005[22]
  • Chief Opposition Whip in Parliament - 2002 – 2004[22]
  • Deputy Minister of Finance - 2001-2002[22]
  • Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities - 2000 – 2001[22]
  • Minister of Posts and Telecommunications - 1994 – 2000[22]

Tobacco Related Activities

Publishing image of smoking on Facebook

As of March 2025, the official Facebook page of Mangala Samaraweera was still active, though he passed away in August 2021. An image of Mangala smoking was published on 21 September 2024.[23]

Image 2: A Facebook post of portraying smoking published on Mangala’s official page. Source: Facebook [23]

Taking a step back on Cigarette tax in October 2019

In October 2019 Mangala Samaraweera issued a gazette reducing the excise duty on the cigarettes measuring between 67mm- 72mm. The gazette declared that the excise duty imposed on a batch of 1,000 cigarettes measuring between 67mm-72mm would be reduced to Rs.33,000, from Rs.37,600. This was taking a step back from his own order to increase the excise duty on the same variety of cigarettes to Rs.37,600 from Rs.23,000 per 1,000 cigarettes in July 2019.[24][25][26]

Excise duty on Cigarettes when Mangala Samaraweera was Finance minister

Table 01 is a summary of Excise duty on cigarettes during his term as the Minister of Finance.

Date Gazette No Cigarettes length <60mm Cigarettes length 60-67mm Cigarettes length 67-72mm Cigarettes length 72-84mm Cigarettes length >84mm Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos, containing tobacco pipe tobacco “Homogenized” or “reconstituted” Pipe tobacco Other Pipe tobacco
31 July 2018[27] 2082/11 Rs.33,550/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.37,675/- per 1000 cigarettes
5 March 2019[26] 2113/9 Rs.11,675/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.19,500/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.23,000/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.37,580/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.42,200/- per 1000 cigarettes Rs.8,000/- per kg Rs.600/-per kg Rs.600/- per kg Rs.600/- per kg
13 May 2019[28] 2123/5 Rs. 37,600/- per 1000 cigarettes
7 October 2019[25] 2131/29 Rs. 37,600/ per 1000 cigarettes
14 October 2019[24] 2145/12 Rs.33,000/- per 1000 cigarettes

Proposal to Import Cigarettes from China

In a press briefing conducted in May 2019, Minister Samaraweera, announced that the government is considering a proposal to import Chinese cigarettes. He further stated that such action is needed to increase the tax revenue from cigarettes and meet the demand of Chinese workers in the country.[29]

Wide Criticism for the Proposal

Minister of Health publicly criticised the proposal and stated that he would not allow it to be implemented.[30] Criticisms arose from tobacco control advocates and health professionals too, highlighting how it can have negative implications on tobacco control in Sri Lanka.[31][32][33] The governing board of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), the government authority responsible for implementing the main regulatory framework related to tobacco and alcohol control in Sri Lanka announced that they would resign if the proposal is implemented.[33][34] In the presence of strong opposition, Minister Samaraweera withdrew the proposal. He publicly showed his displeasure about the outcome, while stating that the proposal had been formulated for addressing the issue raised by the Ambassador of China on the unavailability of Chinese cigarettes in Sri Lanka.[35]

The cigarette industry in China, the state-owned monopoly China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), engages in global business with British American Tobacco (BAT).[36][37][38]

The Proposal to Register Companies to Import Cigarettes

In 2017 budget speech, as the Minister of Finance, Mangala Samaraweera proposed to issue licenses for import cigarettes and cigars. The proposal was criticised by public health advocates and stakeholders of tobacco control as it would open the Sri Lankan cigarette market to new tobacco companies possibly leading to increased availability, affordability and accessibility.[39]

To read more visit the TobaccoUnamsked page Budget Proposals 2018 and Tobacco.

Opposing the Proposed ban on Single Stick Cigarette Sales in Sri Lanka

The Minister of Health announced the plan to ban the sale of single stick cigarettes in 2016.[40][41][42]

When the relevant proposal was tabled for the cabinet approval in September 2018, the Minister of Finance Managala Samaraweera opposed, arguing that the ban would cause a reduction in tax revenue while causing an increase in beedi consumption. (Please refer to our page Proposed ban on Single Stick Cigarette Sales in Sri Lanka for more details).[43][44]

Meeting with the Tobacco Retailers’ Association

One year before the policy on banning single sticks was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka, in September 2017, Tobacco Retailers Association (TRA) met Minister Samaraweera, reportedly, to discuss issues related to tobacco sales.. Media reported that “TRA requested the Minister to maintain prices of legal tobacco products at reasonable levels and not implement the proposed ban on (single) stick sales”.[45][46][47]

For more details please visit the TobaccoUnamsked pages Tobacco Retailers’ Association Opposing Tobacco Regulations in 2017

Minister Samaraweera has a history of being lobbied by the cigarette industry. On 22nd March 2018, The All Ceylon Cigarette Tobacco Barn Owner’s Association met him and handed over an appeal regarding the proposed tobacco cultivation ban.[48] Please refer to our page All Ceylon Cigarette Tobacco Barn Owner’s Association for further details.

Smoking inside the Parliament Premises

A national newspaper in Sri Lanka, The Sunday Times, published a photograph of Minister Samaraweera leaving the Parliament smoking a cigarette in 2007.[49]

Image 2: Mangala Samaraweera smoking a cigarette in the Parliament Complex captured by a photographer of a national newspaper in Sri Lanka.[49]

Alcohol Related Activities

Minister Samaraweera was criticised by health professionals and the public over his activities related to alcohol as mentioned below::

Supporting the Beer Industry

Submitting the 2017 budget proposals at the Parliament, Mangala Samaraweera stated that beer is healthier than sweetened soft drinks, generating wide criticism.[50]

Further, he proposed to give tax incentives for beer manufacturers, arguing that it would result in reduced consumption of hard liquor. He also proposed to tax alcohol based on concentration and type of liquor, which practically led to a significant (around 40%) reduction in beer prices in Sri Lanka.[51][52]

Proposals to Relax Alcohol Control Measures

Media reported that Minister Samaraweera proposed, during a Parliament sitting in 2017, to relax the restrictions on sale of alcohol on Poya days and Christmas day.[53] Further, he also proposed to revoke the ban on women buying alcohol and women working in alcohol retailing settings.[54] The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection accused Minister Samaraweera of encouraging alcohol use, and urged the President to intervene and restore the restrictions.[55]

Tobacco Unmasked Resources

Other relevant TobaccoUnmasked entries:

The local language translations

TobaccoUnmasked_Sinhala
TobaccoUnmasked_Tamil



Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Parliament of Sri Lanka. Directory of Past Members, undated, accessed march 2025
  2. ↑ manthri.lk. Mangala Samaraweera, undated, accessed March 2025
  3. ↑ parliament of Sri Lanka. Hon. Samaraweera, Mahanama, M.P., undated, accessed march 2025
  4. ↑ Ceylon Today. An Exemplary Character Who Stood Above The Rest, 26 August 2023, accessed March 2025
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 B. Dwarakanth. PROFILE-Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Reuters, 21 June 2017, accessed December 2018
  6. ↑ BBC Sinhala. SLFP (Mahajana Wing), 19 June 2007, accessed March 2025
  7. ↑ Daily Mirror. Mangala joins UNP, 6 August 2010, accessed March 2025
  8. ↑ adaderana.lk. UNP to suspend membership of 99 for submitting nominations from SJB, 29 May 2020, accessed February 2025
  9. ↑ News 1st. "We will not take a step back"; Sajith Premadasa launches Samagi Jana Balavegaya, 2 March 2020, accessed February 2025
  10. ↑ News 1st. Mangala Samaraweera decides not to contest the General Election from the Matara District, 9 June 2020, accessed February 2025
  11. ↑ Daily Mirror Online. Mangala withdraws from contesting, 9 June 2020, accessed February 2025
  12. ↑ Daliy Ft. Mangala unveils new political manifesto, ‘True Patriot’, 7August 2021, accessed February 2025
  13. ↑ P Waravita. Mangala launches liberal democratic ‘True Patriots’, The Morning, 25 July 2021, accessed February 2025
  14. ↑ True Patriot LK. Facebook, 25 July 2021, accessed February 2025
  15. ↑ The Morning. Mangala Samaraweera passes away due to Covid-19, 24 August 2021, accessed February 2025
  16. ↑ Times Online. Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera passes away from COVID-19, 24 August 2021, accessed February 2025
  17. ↑ Wikipedia. Mangala Samaraweera, 14 July 2019, Accessed July 2019
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Ministry of Finance Sri Lanka. Mr. Mangala Samaraweera who was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Mass Media assumed duties this morning at the Ministry of Finance, 20 th December 2016, Accessed December 2018
  19. ↑ Times Online. Mangala appointed UNP Vice Chairman, 5 June 2018, accessed February 2025
  20. ↑ Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Foreign Affairs, undated, Accessed December 2018
  21. ↑ The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,4 October 2004, Accessed December 2018
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Sri Lanka. Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, 2005 – 2007 January, undated, Accessed December 2018
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mangala samaraweera. Facebook, 21 September 2024, accessed March 2025
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications, 14 October 2019, Accessed November 2019
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications, 7 October 2019, Accessed November 2019
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications, 5 March 2019, Accessed November 2019
  27. ↑ The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications, 31 July 2018, accessed November 2019
  28. ↑ The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications, 13 May 2019, accessed November 2019
  29. ↑ P. Silva. Liberalization is fine, but is this right time for cigarette imports?, 12 June 2019, Accessed July 2019
  30. ↑ Daily FT. Health Minister says will not allow cigarette import. 18 June 2019
  31. ↑ P. De Silva. Liberalisation is fine, but is this right time for cigarette imports. Daily Mirror. 12 June 2019
  32. ↑ DailyFT. ADIC fumes against Mangala’s proposal to license import foreign cigarettes to Sri Lanka. 13 June 2019
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 D. Jayamanne. NADF urges Government Don’t import Foreign Tobacco. Ceylon Today. 19 June 2019
  34. ↑ Colombo Gazette. NATA board threatens to resign if Chinese cigarettes imported, 30 June 2019, Accessed July 2019.
  35. ↑ Daily Mirror. Mangala withdraws plans to allow Chinese cigarette imports, 3 July 2019
  36. ↑ TobaccoTactics. British American Tobacco, TobaccoTactics.org, 03 June 2019, Accessed July 2019
  37. ↑ British American Tobacco. CTBAT International Limited has officially commenced business operations, News Release, 30 August 2013, Accessed July 2019
  38. ↑ TobaccoReporter. CNTC and BAT joint venture in business, 02 September 2013, Accessed July 2019
  39. ↑ Parliament of Sri Lanka. Budget Speech 2018, 9th November 2017, Accessed January 2018
  40. ↑ The Government official news portal. Laws to ban the sale of a single cigarette, 08 March 2017, Accessed October 2018
  41. ↑ S. A. Jayasekara. Sale of loose fags will be banned: Rajitha, Daily Mirror, 09 March 2017, Accessed October 2018
  42. ↑ Daily FT. Govt. to introduce standardised packaging for all tobacco products, 12 April 2018, Accessed October 2018
  43. ↑ Daily Mirror. No ban on single cigarette ban, 17 September 2018, Accessed October 2018
  44. ↑ K. Jayawardena. GMOA wants law to prevent single stick cigarette sales, Daily Mirror, 14 September 2018, Accessed October 2018
  45. ↑ Daily Mirror. Tobacco retailers meet Fin Min over industry concerns, 30 May 2017, Accessed December 2018
  46. ↑ Daily news. Tobacco retailers urge FM not to hike prices, 30 May 2017, Accessed December 2018
  47. ↑ Daily FT. PM appoints Committee to review draft changes to Tobacco Policy, 30 May 2017, Accessed December 2018
  48. ↑ Jayantha godawela. සිගරට් දුම් උදුන් හිමි සංගමයෙන් මුදල් ඇමතිට අභියාචනයක් ,22 March 2018, Accessed December 2018
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Sunday Times. News Wire, 18 February 2007, Accessed July 2019
  50. ↑ Daily mirror. The ‘sweet’ and ‘strong’ side of budget 2018 – Editorial, 14 November 2017, Accessed December 2018
  51. ↑ Daily Mirror. No presidential cheers for beer – EDITORIAL, 6 December 2017, Accessed December 2018
  52. ↑ ADIC Credibility of the research justifying reducing the beer tax in budget 2018, undated, Accessed April 2019
  53. ↑ Daily FT. Mangala cheers rethink of alcohol policy, 23 June 2017, Accessed December 2018
  54. ↑ NEWS AGENCIES. Sri Lanka lifts ban on women buying alcohol Bangkok post, 13 January 2018, Accessed December 2018
  55. ↑ The Guardian Sri Lanka reimposes ban on women buying alcohol – days after it was lifted, 15 January 2018, Accessed December 2018
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