President instructs officials to establish mechanism to engage parents against drug menace

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to establish a mechanism to actively engage parents in protecting children from the drug menace. He issued the instructions at a meeting of the “A Nation United” National Steering Committee, established to eradicate the drug menace from the country, held this morning (30) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The President emphasised that protecting children from this menace depends more on strong parent-child relationships than on the law alone. He also stressed the need to directly educate parents on the seriousness of the drug menace and how to monitor their children’s behaviour.

He highlighted the need for a trusted individual to provide guidance to parents if their children are at risk of being exposed to drug use, noting that parents generally seek the assistance of a teacher or religious leader in such situations. He instructed officials to develop a systematic programme to provide reliable guidance, taking this into consideration, and pointed out the need for special training if teachers are to be involved in the programme.

The President further emphasised the need to strengthen the programme being implemented to dismantle the distribution networks linked to the drug trade.

It was noted that the number of forensic reports completed daily has increased following the expansion of facilities and improved efficiency at the Government Analyst’s Department. A total of 8,000 forensic reports related to drugs were completed during September alone. Data entry activities have also been strengthened with the assistance of Navy personnel. It was further revealed that the improved efficiency in obtaining forensic reports has enabled a significant number of persons remanded in custody for drug-related offences to be released on bail, thereby helping to reduce prison overcrowding.

The President instructed officials to refer the new Bill on drug control, which has been presented to Parliament, to the Committee in the first week of October, obtain approval and take steps to have it passed by Parliament by the third week of October.

Discussions were also held on developing a centralised digital system and software linking the Police, the Government Analyst’s Department, the Department of Prisons and the judicial system. The President instructed officials to discuss the matter with the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and other relevant officials and take steps to address the practical issues involved.

He inquired into the measures taken to facilitate the direct submission of expert reports and Government Analyst’s reports to the courts by email, in accordance with the Act No. 07 of 2025. He also reviewed the measures taken to fill vacancies in the Legal Draftsman’s Department.

Programmes implemented in international schools to combat the drug menace and their effectiveness were also reviewed. The President highlighted the need to develop social media programmes targeting the younger generation to raise awareness of the dangerous consequences of drug use.

Discussions were also held on the drug-related challenge spreading in the Northern and Eastern regions following the war, and the programmes being implemented to address this challenge.

The President highlighted the importance of maintaining the 1818 hotline, introduced to provide information on drug trafficking, distribution and related illegal activities, and conducting a publicity programme on the response to information received through the 1818 hotline to strengthen public confidence in the service.

He also reviewed the progress of the rehabilitation process, including measures to increase the capacity of rehabilitation centres.

The Maha Sangha, including Most Venerable Narampanawe Ananda Thera, the Anunayake of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Venerable Waleboda Gunasiri Thera, Anunayake of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Most Venerable Kuppiyawatte Bodhananda Thera, together with members of the clergy, including Reverend Nishantha Fernando, Sri Velu Suresh Sharma Kurukkal, Muththusamy Alagesan Kurukkal and Sheikh Mohamed Arkam Nooramith Moulavi, also participated.

Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinaseena, other ministry secretaries, government officials, the Inspector General of Police, and representatives of the security forces, including the Commanders of the three Armed Forces, Members of the “A Nation United” National Steering Committee were also present.