News
‘‘Nation United-National Drive’’ programme to eradicate the dangerous drugs menace
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
After recognising the widespread use of dangerous drugs as a national menace contributing to numerous crimes across Sri Lanka, the government has scheduled a national-level programme titled “Ratama Ekata” National Operation, “Nation United- National Drive” to eradicate the menace on October 30, 2025, at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
The proposal about the National Mission submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to initiate this mission and establish a National Steering Committee for its implementation was approved by the Cabinet on October 13, 2025.
In parallel with the programme, the President attended a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on October 23 to brief the heads of media institutions on the “Nation United- National Drive”, aimed at eradicating the drug menace. He explained how drug-related issues have escalated into a national crisis and negatively affect the wellbeing of future generations. He emphasised that this drug threat must be eliminated from the nation and called on everyone to come together to fulfill this national responsibility.
The President attended a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on October 23 to brief the heads of media institutions on the “Nation United- National Drive”, aimed at eradicating the drug menace
“I also highlighted the importance of raising broad public awareness on this issue, pointing out that the media can play a vital role in this effort. Accordingly, I invited all heads of media institutions to actively contribute to this national mission,” the President said while addressing the media heads during the meeting.
A report released in late September 2025 by Sri Lanka’s National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) highlights a rising trend of drug use among schoolchildren, with the Western Province reporting the highest number of cases. Within the province, Colombo district has the largest concentration of affected students. Other high-risk districts for student substance abuse include Kandy, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Galle, Ratnapura, and Kalutara. The NDDCB also noted that children aged 12 to 17 who experiment with drugs for the first time face a 67% likelihood of repeated use.
In response, the government has made the eradication of narcotics a top priority and is calling on the entire nation to join hands in this effort. This initiative represents a crucial step toward addressing the growing drug menace and safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations.
When the Sunday Times inquired about the setup and objectives of the programme called “Nation United -National Drive,” Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said “This program is aimed at eradicating narcotics and addressing related issues, in line with the concept of ‘one nation’ working together. We know that these issues cannot be solved in a day; they are problems that have been institutionalised for over 70 years. What we have clearly identified is that, without the support of all communities across Sri Lanka, it will be difficult to eradicate this issue, as it is no longer a problem affecting only a specific group, but the entire nation.”
The primary focus of the national programme is on narcotics, with the underworld representing the other side of the problem. Through this programme, the government aims to launch an urgent national initiative to eradicate the menace through strong political leadership, an efficient decision-making mechanism, and broad public participation.
According to Mr. Wijepala, the programme is expected to achieve several key objectives. “We mainly focus on public awareness, aiming to educate society about the menace through broad publicity. Another focus is to disrupt and dismantle the networks associated with narcotics trafficking. Alongside these efforts, we are working to strengthen rehabilitation opportunities and provide support for those who wish to quit using narcotics,” said the Minister of Public Security.
The key sector directly responsible for narcotics seizures operates under the Director of Social Protection, Mr. Vipula Fernando, who also oversees biodiversity, consumer protection, and port control. The Sunday Times inquired about the current situation regarding narcotics seizures and the scheduled day for the programme aimed at uniting the nation under one umbrella to eradicate dangerous drugs in the country.
“The President is directly concerned about the use of new technology in narcotics seizures and has requested the immediate installation of scanners at Bandaranaike International Airport. The government is also planning to allocate 500 million Rupees for this purpose,” Mr. Fernando told the Sunday Times.
“To standardise narcotics examination procedures, the Customs Department has initiated efforts to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to identify and address any existing gaps in their inspection processes,” he added.
“This new SOP must be approved by both the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) and the Government Analyst to ensure no loopholes remain. The Director General of Customs has invited the heads of the NDDCB and the Government Analyst to reach a consensus. A committee, including representatives from the Government Analyst, the NDDCB, and officers from the Customs Narcotics Control Unit, will be appointed to meet and decide on the best practices,” Mr. Fernando said.
According to Mr. Fernando, enhancing officer skills and international training recognising that traffickers utilise non-traditional, latest methods, efforts are focused on upgrading both technological aspects and the skills of the officers. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the main organisation supporting the department, continuously training officers, including those from Customs and the Police Narcotics Bureau, who are engaged in drug interdiction. A training programme is scheduled for the following month to update officers on the latest modernity of traffickers.
The Director General of Government Information, Mr. Harsha Bandara, provided extensive details about the event planned for October 30 at Sugathadasa Stadium, which will mark the launch of the Dangerous Drugs campaign.
According to Mr. Bandara, the primary aim of the programme is to unite the entire country in this effort. The goal is to engage the population as a whole, without the involvement of political parties or opposition viewpoints. He emphasised that the campaign is intended to be a “full public movement”, focusing on Dangerous Drugs.
The event will also serve as the inaugural moment for the National Council, which was established by a Cabinet decision. It will see participation from a wide range of groups, including the President, representatives of public protection committees, the military, police, customs officials, and political parties.
The campaign seeks to empower communities and raise awareness by directly addressing the spread, addiction, and trafficking of these substances. It will also aim to reach those currently involved in these activities, urging them to refrain from participation.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!