Drug addicts to get jobs after rehabilitation: Watagala

Colombo, Oct. 16 (Daily Mirror) - The government has planned to introduce a mechanism to recruit drug addicts for employment in government and private sectors after giving them vocational training on completion of the rehabilitation programme, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala said today.

He said during a discussion in Colombo that it was found out that drug addicts start taking drugs soon after they are sent home after completing the rehabilitation programme.

Watagala said the government's attention has been drawn to this matter and pointed out that, in a move to address this situation, the government has planned to introduce a mechanism where the drug addicts will be given vocational training after completing the rehabilitation programme without absorbing them into society.

He said a special cabinet paper will be presented in this regard.

Watagala said this move will help curb the demand for drugs while curbing the supply chain on the other hand.