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| Tuesday, 1 July 2003 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera Drug abuse is not a local phenomenon that can be rectified by home grown solutions alone. It has its global ramifications. It is also an issue closely interwoven with poverty and under development. As head of the Government committed to human development and the improvement of the quality of life of our people, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said in a message to the National Drug Control Awards ceremony. 'I initiated the Samurdhi Movement which if meaningfully implemented would lead to poverty alleviation,' the President said. To arrest the high incidence of substance abuse, I set up a Presidential Task Force on Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs to formulate a plan of action to minimize drug dependency among youth. Currently a special unit set up at the Presidential Secretariat is implementing the action plan by mobilising the community through the samurdhi Programme. The President emphasised that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board is making a concerted effort to arrest the problem of drug dependency. I congratulate the Chairman and the staff for good work done over the years and wish them every success in their future endeavours. National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Chairman Prof. Ravindra Fernando in his address at the award ceremony said that drug abuse brings misery to millions of families around the world. In Sri Lanka, drug abuse has led to social and family disharmony, ruining of lives of thousands of young people, an increase in drug-related crime and a significant burden to the health services and the economy. The procedures adopted in Sri Lanka today to prevent drug abuse vary according to the behaviour pattern of each individual. Policy decisions taken by a Government directly affect the life of the people of the country. But that itself is not adequate to effect a permanent change in society. Identification as to what changes should take place in society and technological advancement to target such changes are imperative, Prof. Fernando added. It is necessary to encourage parents, grand-parents, other relatives, teachers, peers and many others to talk to children and young people about the dangers of drug abuse. Rather than maintaining a silence, openly discussing the hazards of drugs will be an important protective factor against drug abuse, Prof. Fernando said. To recognize the services of institutions and individuals who courageously contribute to eradicate the drug menace in Sri Lanka, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board holds a National Awards Ceremony, on the International Day Against Abuse and Illicit Trafficking of drugs. All their efforts will assist to prevent drug abuse, reform young men and women, whose future would otherwise be ruined and raise the socio-economic standard of the community, Prof. Fernando added. |
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