Temperance Day parades to converge in Colombo

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: Between 18 to 20,000 people die from, smoking related diseases every year, President of South Eastern Asia International Organisation of Good Temperance and Sri Lanka Federation of Temperance Organisations (FTO) Dr. Sisira Kodagoda said yesterday.

He was speaking to the media at the National Dangerous Drug Control Board Auditorium. Dr. Kodagoda said the FTO has organised several programmes parallel to the World Temperance Day which falls today.

Continuing Dr. Kodagoda said the FTO has arranged a campaign to collect signatures from 100,000 schoolchildren throughout the country.

The FTOs’ signature collecting parade starts on October 16 morning from the premises of Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi, the Dalada Maligawa, Kataragama Kiri Vehera, and Kurunegala Main Mosque and will converge in Colombo the same evening.

They hope to collect thumb impressions of students from schools on the way.

In addition Dr. Kodagoda said flags of World Temperance Day will be pinned on the Prime Minister today. Seventy five schoolchildren who won in the art competition held by Education Department to mark the World Temperance Day too will participate and cast their thumb impressions in the presence of Prime Minister after taking an oath to shun smoking and drugs.

He said the theme of this year’s Temperance Day celebrations is “Prevention Through Understanding”, depicting various facts related to the use of drugs and their harmful effects.

He said Sri Lanka is the only country which has officially banned smoking and established an institution against the use of drugs and smoking. The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board was established in 1998.

Dr. Kodagoda said President Mahinda Rajapaksa reserved a special page under the theme “Mathata Thitha”in his election manifesto to eradicate smoking and drug abuse.

Since heroin fetches a heavy price the demand for cannabis has increased and would pose a similar problem associated with heroin in time to come.

On the completion of collecting the signatures the FTO will erect a giant board opposite the Vihara Mahadevi Park. where the paintings of competitors in the drawing contest will be exhibited.

Dr. Kodagoda said 25,000 persons were sentenced to jail in 2006 for using cannabis.

Meanwhile the FTO has arranged an awareness campaign on October 4 at the Kelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya where students from 10 schools will participate.