Presidential Secretariat reviews 1818 hotline operations

Officials met this morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat to review the operations of the 1818 hotline and progress made in its implementation. Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake chaired the discussion.

The hotline was introduced as part of the ‘A Nation United’ national operation to eradicate the illicit drug menace. It was established so the public can provide security authorities with accurate information on drug trafficking, distribution and any related suspicious activities taking place across the country. Members of the public anywhere in Sri Lanka can submit information through the service, and the confidentiality of informants is fully protected. Information received is acted upon promptly.

The service operates from the ‘A Nation United’ Media Centre and is coordinated under the direct supervision of the Presidential Secretariat and the ‘A Nation United’ National Steering Committee. It enables members of the public to provide information to security authorities securely at any time.

The discussion also focused on the first anniversary of the ‘A Nation United’ national operation, which falls on 05 November, and measures to strengthen its effectiveness in protecting future generations from the drug menace and building a safe, drug-free society.

Also attending were Venerable Madovita Vajira Buddhi Thera, Director (Piriven) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education; Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs; Prince Senadheera, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President; Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya, Inspector General of Police; H. S. K. J. Bandara, Director General of the Department of Government Information; Gamini Senaratne, Commissioner-General of Buddhist Affairs; Chathuri Pintu, Director of the Department of Christian Religious Affairs; Y. Aniruthanan, Director of the Department of Hindu Religious Affairs; and M. S. M. Nawaz, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious Affairs. A group of officials representing the tri-forces and other relevant government institutions were also present.