National Drug Policy from January

Parliamentary corr.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said in Parliament yesterday a National Drug Policy will be implemented from next January.

He said that this was not an easy task and the many bold attempts made by his predecessors were not successful owing to the obstacles placed against the implementation of such a policy.

However, this Government is determined to bring in and implement this policy for the benefit of the people.

Some quarters in society demand that the Government must implement the Drug Policy proposal formulated by Prof. Senaka Bibile 40 years ago.

This we cannot implement owing to the fact that some of the provisions Prof. Bibile proposed were now outdated. The Government will modify these proposals to suit modern day needs and in consideration of problems people face today.