PTFD to conduct drug prevention in schools | Daily News

PTFD to conduct drug prevention in schools

Picture by Sulochana Gamage

The Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention will conduct a drug prevention week in schools countrywide aiming to do away with the drug menace.

Director of the PTFDP Dr. Samantha Kumara Kithalawaarachchi addressing media today at the President’s Secretariat said that the drug prevention week will be conducted from January 21st till 28 under the theme “A forceful Protest from schools against drug” in all schools of the country.

The inauguration ceremony of the drug prevention week will be held under the patronage of the President Maithripala Sirisena on January 21st at Mulaithive Central College, Dr. Kithalawaarachchi said.

Addressing media he added that the entire community is duty bound to make their utmost contribution to form a drug free country so as to offer a drug free country to the future generation. The declaration of a drug prevention week is also an another move comes under the national responsibility to create a drug free country.

He added that alcohol and tobacco claim 70,000 lives of Sri Lankans annually. This figure is rather high when considering that of Dengue as Dengue claims only around 3,000 lives annually. Besides, a large number of people sustain permanent ailments annually due to the usage of drug and tobacco. According to statistics an amount of Rs 390 million is spent by Sri Lankans daily on drug and alcohol.     

Speaking on the drug prevention week, Dr. Kithalawaarachchi said, students and parents will be made aware about the drug menace on the first two days. Besides, students and the political authority will be made aware about the legal background relating drugs on the next days. Meanwhile, several other drug prevention programmes will be carried out with the direct participation of students, teachers, parents and social activists during the week.

In line with the move of the drug prevention week to create a drug free country, “Kalana Mithuru Samaja” are being established centralising Dhamma Schools.    


Add new comment