The man suffering from lung cancer has claimed that he became addicted to smoking because of the nicotine in the cigarettes manufactured by Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) which has a near monopoly on cigarettes in the country.The Island newspaper said the man was claiming Rs 2,50,000 (3,846 dollars) as damages from CTC, member of the BAT group. The paper said the case is filed with the Colombo District Court.

Earlier this month, President Chandrika Kumaratunga ordered a ban on liquor and cigarette advertisements in state-run media from January. The President asked the media ministry to encourage privately-owned radio and television stations as well as newspapers to fall in line by January next year.