Tobacco, alcohol and other drug use together contribute to an estimated 80 to 100 deaths each day in Sri Lanka, according to Dr. Manoj Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Rajarata University.
Dr. Fernando made the remarks at a media briefing on drug prevention and education held on 28 August 2026 as part of the national anti-narcotics campaign.
The figure should be understood as an estimate presented by the researcher, rather than a newly released official national mortality statistic.
Smoking described as leading contributor
Dr. Fernando identified smoking as the largest contributor to substance-related deaths and estimated that alcohol consumption accounts for around 10 to 15 deaths per day.
He also discussed deaths associated with illicit drugs.
Importantly, Dr. Fernando acknowledged that deaths directly attributable to illicit drugs have not yet been established through comprehensive research.
That limitation is important when interpreting the overall estimate.
Prevention and public health
Dr. Fernando argued that tobacco and alcohol use can precede the use of illicit substances in some individuals and called for greater attention to prevention and education.
Substance use can impose health, social and economic costs, but estimates involving mortality depend heavily on how deaths attributable to different substances are defined and calculated.
Official mortality statistics and individual research estimates may therefore use different methodologies and should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Key facts
- Estimate: 80-100 deaths a day linked to tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, attributed to Dr. Manoj Fernando
- Alcohol estimate: Around 10-15 deaths a day, according to Dr. Fernando
- Largest contributor identified: Smoking
- Important limitation: Comprehensive illicit-drug mortality research has not yet established exact deaths