The Oral Health Unit of the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) conducted a specialised training workshop for Regional Dental Surgeons, Dental Surgeons from Youth Dental Clinics and Community Dental Clinics on 17th July, 2026 at its auditorium.
The objective of the programme was to build capacity and enhance professional skills to deliver evidence-based behavioral change interventions, aimed at helping individuals to quit tobacco use. The sessions were facilitated by key resource persons: Dr. Mahesh Rajasuriya, Consultant Psychiatrist and Lead of CCT and Dr. Manuja Perera, Consultant Community Physician and Editor of CCT. In addition, Professor Hemantha Amarasinghe conducted a session addressing the legal frameworks of tobacco and alcohol control, highlighting the key regulations.
During the workshop, participants gained critical knowledge and practical skills, including the public health hazards of tobacco use, the challenges faced by individuals in quitting, identifying strategies used by the tobacco industry, exploring effective methods to counter them and implementing effective evidence based strategies to guide patients toward tobacco cessation.