Education, path to a drug free society

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: Asoka Vidyalaya has taken initiative towards creating a drug free society. This is a golden opportunity on the dangers posed by hard drugs, said Inspector General of Police Victor Perera addressing students of the Asoka Vidyalaya, the Vice Principal and the teachers at the Police headquarters yesterday.

The ceremony was organised by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) Director Senior SP Bernard de Silva.

Former Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) Director DIG Ananda Hettiarachchi also attended.

PNB Deputy Director Senior SP S. Sri Guganesan and PNB Assistant Director Senior SP I. M. Karunaratne represented the PNB.

Drugs are dangerous like the LTTE. LTTE cadres sell hard drugs to purchase weapons to fight a war against a legally constituted Government. The Asoka Vidyalaya has taken steps to set up a society to eradicate the hard drug menace in schools, the IGP added.

“I have given strict instructions to police to be hard on drug traffickers and peddlers but not consumers. Police should take steps to educate people on the danger of using hard drugs,” the IGP said.

The younger generation is the wealth of this country. They are the future leaders. It is of paramount importance to protect them and prevent them from using hard drugs, the IGP said. This students’ organisation also should educate parents and elders in this respect, he added.

The IGP emphasised he will take steps to prevent selling of liquor in all police messes.

PNB Director Senior SP Bernard de Silva said in keeping with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ‘Mathata Thitha’ concept, the PNB is assisting schools to set up societies to prevent students getting involved in hard drugs.

The PNB Director thanked the IGP for the assistance to eradicate the hard drug menace in the country through schools.

“We started this programme mainly to coincide with the International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking. The Sri Lankan Government had declared the week commencing from June 24 to June 30 as the ‘Week Against Narcotics’.”

The PNB Director also thanked Asoka Vidyalaya for taking initiatives to prevent using hard drugs in schoolchildren.

Vice Principal Asoka Vidyalaya P.P. Kemarathna, Teacher-in-Charge H.D.P. Piyawansha, President of the school’s Drug Free Society, Hishan Ravindran, Secretary R.M. Shamesh Danushka Gunathilaka, and Organiser of the Society S.M. Dilan Harsha Senanayake also participated.