Anti-drug youth summit to be held on June 26

Colombo, May 21 (Daily Mirror) - An anti-drug youth summit will be held on June 26 under the “A Nation United” national programme aimed at eradicating the drug menace in Sri Lanka.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) said a discussion on the initial organisational arrangements for the summit was held this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The summit has been jointly organised by the National Youth Services Council and the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on June 26.

According to organisers, the initiative aims to mobilise youth at grassroots level to protect the younger generation from drug abuse and to demonstrate Sri Lankan youth’s rejection of drug traffickers.

Survey reports discussed during the meeting indicated that Sri Lanka’s youth are increasingly facing serious social, economic and health-related consequences due to drug abuse, particularly among those aged between 20 and 35 years. Officials noted that the issue has also affected the productivity of the country’s workforce.

The “A Nation United” programme has been launched as a major government initiative to combat drug abuse and support affected youth.

Extensive discussions were held regarding the summit’s plans and preliminary organisational activities.

Among those present were Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewe, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Aruna Bandara, Media Advisor to the President Chandana Sooriyabandara, Director General of Government Information Harsha Bandara, Chairman of the National Youth Services Council Supun Wijeratne, heads of relevant institutions and senior officers of the Tri-Forces and Police.