Sri Lanka Confronts Rising Obesity and Flaws in Sugar Reduction Policy

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health reports that roughly 15% of women—about one in seven—are classified as obese, highlighting a growing public‑health challenge linked to diabetes, heart disease and other non‑communicable illnesses. Officials are calling for stronger nutrition education, physical‑activity promotion and broader policy measures to curb the trend.

The government's twin approach to curb sugar consumption—taxes on sugar‑sweetened beverages and a Traffic Light Labelling system—has shown some impact, but recent research reveals major loopholes. Around three‑quarters of sweetened drinks are sold outside the regulatory framework, especially in informal markets that serve the poorest households. Additionally, many manufacturers are reformulating products with non‑sugar sweeteners, allowing them to evade the tax and still receive favourable label ratings. These gaps risk widening health inequalities and undermining the intended reduction in obesity and related diseases.

Public‑health experts urge Sri Lanka to expand taxation to cover artificial‑sweetener drinks, tighten labelling rules and adjust tax thresholds to inflation, aiming for a more comprehensive strategy against the nation’s rising lifestyle‑disease burden.