Colombo (LNW): The measures taken to control the drug menace in Sri Lanka were recently discussed at the Select Committee of Parliament appointed to look into and identify the mechanisms to be implemented in order to immediately control and eradicate the rapidly spreading drug menace in the country and to submit observations and recommendations to Parliament in that regard.
The matter was addressed at the Committee meeting held on August 10 under the Committee Chief, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.
The Sri Lanka Police, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol were summoned before this Committee and the measures taken by these departments to control the drug menace in the country were discussed.
A special committee has been appointed headed by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Deshbandu Tennakoon, to control the drug menace in this country, Alles noted.
Moreover, the officials representing the Police emphasised that many of measures have been taken to stop bringing in drugs into the country in a large-scale. The intelligence agencies of the neighbour countries will also support for this purpose, they added.
Furthermore, the officials representing the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol presented to the Committee some suggestions that could be taken to reduce the use of tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, the officials further stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board is working towards taking necessary measures for the treatment of people who are addicted to drugs.
The MPs who attended the meeting also tendered proposals and ideas regarding drug control and the Committee Chief responded that the proposals of Members should be taken into consideration and a report containing the proposals of these present sectors should be given to the Committee.
State Minister Sisira Jayakody, and MPs Buddhika Pathirana, Jayantha Samaraweera, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Rajika Wickramasinghe and Manjula Dissanayake were present at the occasion.
