A Special Bill is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament in the near future to prepare a mechanism to conduct the country’s drug prevention campaign in a scientific and productive manner via the Special Advisory Committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the President Udaya R.Seneviratne at a media conference held at the Government Information Department yesterday.
He further said that a Special Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the Dangerous Drug Control Board, Rehabilitation Authority, Health Ministry, Prisons Department and other related institutions has been appointed by the President to implement an integrated mechanism for drug prevention. Community participation is very much essential for the rehabilitation and social integration of persons addicted to drugs. Considering this, we are hoping to register voluntary community based rehabilitation organizations to support the rehabilitation process.
According to recent statistics, there are over 100,000 drug users in Sri Lanka who remain undetected while around 11,000 persons have been jailed for drug-related offences.
Responding to a question by a journalist regarding the absence of laws to take legal action against drug driving, Police Narcotics Bureau Director SSP T.A.C Danapala said that new laws are scheduled to be introduced to institute legal action against persons driving in an impaired manner as a result of taking drugs.
“New machines will be imported to make it easier for the Police to target people driving under the influence of illegal drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine.
“This new legislation will significantly enhance our ability to detect errant motoristsm,” he added.
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