President Maithripala Sirisena says the Cabinet of Ministers should take steps to approve the proposal tabled by him to the Cabinet to increase the tax on tobacco products to 90 percent without taking much time.

The President requested all the Ministers and MPs not to take the responsibility of making the whole nation ill by postponing the duties we should fulfill today for tomorrow. He made this request participating at the opening of the newly built building complex at the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital, last week.

Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Wijedasa Rajapakse, Western Province Chief Minister, Isura Devapriya, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Director of the Maharagama Apeksha hospital, Wilfred Kumarasiri, persons who made financial assistance to build the building complex, Mr. Karim Ansar and Mr. Ameen Ansar participated at this event.