President calls for coordinated national plan to eliminate drug menace

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed that all institutions must act in line with a coordinated national plan to eliminate Sri Lanka’s drug menace. Addressing the meeting of the “A Nation United” National Steering Council at the Presidential Secretariat today (02), attended by the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas and other religious leaders, the President directed officials to present a detailed report at the next session outlining institutional responsibilities, progress achieved, and programmes implemented under the national plan. During the meeting, it was revealed that approximately 70 per cent of the prison population consists of individuals addicted to narcotic substances. Attention was therefore directed towards measures that could be taken in relation to them in order to address the serious issue of prison overcrowding. The President also inquired into the measures being taken to prevent schoolchildren from becoming involved in drug use. It was noted that 225 programmes, including awareness initiatives for teachers and students, have already been implemented at school level. Discussions have also been held with vice-chancellors and heads of departments at universities and higher educational institutions, leading to the establishment of peer groups among students to carry out awareness programmes. Attention was further drawn to conducting a nationwide survey on the prevalence of drugs within the school system. The President emphasised the need to establish a committee led by the Ministry of Education, comprising representatives of all relevant institutions, to operate under a common plan aimed at eliminating the drug menace from schools. It was also decided to convene a special discussion with the owners of private and international schools to involve them in the national drug prevention programme. Progress in drafting new legislation to ensure the prompt destruction of seized narcotics was reviewed. Attention was also given to introducing an automated system for managing court exhibits and to decentralising laboratory facilities with the support of legal and scientific experts in order to minimise delays in investigations. The President highlighted the need for a systematic reporting mechanism on seized narcotics and the locations where they are being held as court exhibits. The President also stressed the importance of maintaining records on consignments awaiting Government Analyst reports, consignments for which reports have already been obtained and quantities retained as court exhibits. It was further noted that the draft legislation on the rehabilitation of persons addicted to narcotic substances has now been finalised and will be gazetted shortly. Attention was also focused on introducing drug testing kits to the market through pharmacies, enabling parents to check privately whether their children have become involved in drug use. Extensive discussions were held on establishing modern facilities for the Police Narcotics Bureau, improving the efficiency of the Department of the Government Analyst, adopting modern technological methods for obtaining analyst reports and introducing the necessary amendments to legislation relating to dangerous drugs. To prevent narcotics from entering the country via maritime routes, the Navy, Police and intelligence services are implementing a joint special operational plan. Discussions also focused on preventing the distribution of drugs by boat, the legislative amendments required in this regard and strengthening the legal authority to confiscate vehicles used for drug trafficking, including multi-day fishing vessels. (Newswire)