Mr. Periyannan Dineshkumar, serving as a Tamil-language editor at the Centre for Combatting Tobacco (CCT), has been selected to take part in the esteemed course TIMRA 2025 – Tobacco Industry Monitoring, Research and Accountability – hosted by the University of Bath, UK. Held from June 30 to July 4, the workshop gathered 55 global participants committed to advancing tobacco control initiatives.

Organized by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG), TIMRA stands as a leading international training programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of professionals to monitor the tobacco industry’s tactics, promote evidence-based policies, and demand accountability from the industry.

Mr. Dineshkumar received a scholarship to attend the online track of the workshop, recognizing his ongoing efforts in addressing tobacco industry interference and advancing public health in Sri Lanka. The training provided valuable insights into surveillance methods, investigative strategies, policy advocacy, corporate influence on taxation, and building global alliances for stronger tobacco control.