European Union warns of slashing the GSP+ - President

The final conference of the National Drug Prevention Week is currently being held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. The drug prevention week which was implemented on June 23rd under the direction of President Maithripala Sirisena ended yesterday (June 30).

The main ceremony of the week long campaign will be held at Sugathdasa Stadium today (01July) with the participation of His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chief Guest.

In parallel to the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observances on 26 July, the President Maithripala Sirisena pioneered this mega week long drug prevention campaign island wide targeting School children, students in universities and vocational training centers and the general public as an expression of his determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of asociety free of drug abuse.

The campaign saw its curtain rise with a special education programme aimed at school children on 24th June and a community awareness programme followed on the second day (25) on the same theme. The third day (26) of the campaign aimed at educating employees in state institutions while the fourth day(27) totally focused to enlighten members serving in the armed services. Several programmes were also conducted in various parts of the island with a special focus on the rehabilitation of drug addicts on 28th June and on the following day(29), the campaigners focused their total attention to educate university students on this social menace. In addition, there were number of programmes to educate field officers island wide Today (30) marking the final day of the week long drug prevention campaign.

The mega drug prevention campaign with series of events included several public marches, education programmes, conferences, lectures, and poster and banner campaigns covering the whole island with a notable high public participation.

In the meantime, Presidential Task Force for Drug Prevention, National Dangerous Drug Control Board and the Sri Lanka Police Department joined hands to compile a national report on drug abuse and the spread of drug abuse in order to access the level of the danger and their committee report will be handed over to President at the closing ceremony tomorrow.

National Drug Prevention programme is being carried out under the direct supervision of His Excellency the President Maithripa Sirisena and it has achieved triumphant victories including number of arrests connected to drug offenses and Treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts from the year 2015 to 2019.

In order to achieve benevolent goals of the campaign, the President himself has chaired 14 district conferences and in support of the movement, 15000 more drug prevention committees in district, provincial and village levels are active today to eradicate the social threat completely from the country. In this endeavor, a 72000 contingent of assistant drug prevention technicians are also inline island wide.

In addition, 6000 more drug prevention committees have been established under “Thirasara” school project and ‘KalyanaMitra Societies” or Friends’ Clubs in 15000 Sunday Dhamma Schools are devoted to the cause. For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, President has called tri forces for duty in drug prevention and all of those in the war against drugs have received commendations in recognition of their services from the President.

Law cases connected to a total of 1695kg of drugs have been completed proceedings and accordingly those drug stocks have been destroyed in public in order to garner the public support for the war against drugs. Law enforcement authorities have seized 24,818kgs, 393grams and 767miligrams from year 2015 to 2019.