Plan to create narcotic free country - Minister Basil

A plan was drawn up to eradicate drug addiction from the country before the end of the year. The Police Department has a great responsibility to curb the drug menace.

The President is focusing on giving the department a new vision, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

Minister Rajapaksa said so after opening the new Police station complex, Kochchikade.

He said it is the duty of the Police to work closely with the public and ensure the security of foreign tourists.

The minister said the government's objective was to make the country free from poverty by 2016 through raising income levels of the people and minimizing expenditure.

The minister attributed massive development work in progress to peace following the end of the war. Development is reaching to the people. It is spreading from the family to the village and from village to the town and the country.

He said the most poverty-stricken people are those in shanties, the people in plantation areas and fishermen's families. Many of them are drug addicts.

"If this problem can be solved, the money spent on drugs, can be spent on improving the quality of their lives," the minister said.

Measures have been taken to get the cooperation of the Police in this connection, he said

State Resources and Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Sarath Gunaratne, MP Sudarshani Fernandopulle. Western Provincial Councillor Nimal Lansa and inspector-General of Police N K Ilangakoon also participated.