Workshop on Anti-Drug Awareness in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police
An event titled ‘A secure tomorrow – A creative awareness programme for schools’ was held at the Jayaratne Hall, Faculty of Management and Finance, on the 1st of March, 2024. The event was held in collaboration with the National Youth Service Council – Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Police, University Grants Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
Venerable Dr Kirinde Assaji Thero, Mr Deshabandhu Tennakoon, Inspector General of Police, Mr Roshan Rajapakse, Deputy Inspector of Police, Mr Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, Senior Deputy Inspector of Police, Sabaragamuwa Province, Mr Saakya Nanayakkara, the Chairman of the National Dangerous drugs control board, Mr Thilak Waththuhewa, Principal, Royal College Colombo, Senior Professor (Chair) H D Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, Professor H M Nihal Hennayake, the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Finance, Professor L Manawadu, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Vidya Jothi Vajira H. W Dissanayake, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor N S Punchihewa, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, other academic staff and students from the Buddhist society, leo club, sociology department and faculty of law were present.
The event took place to send out university students to schools to create awareness concerning illicit drugs and their implications. Ms Supeshala Rathnayaka delivered the welcome speech. This was followed by a performance by the National Youth Council. Senior DIG Saakya Nanayakkara was called upon to deliver his address. He spoke on demand deduction, peer education being the best way to get through to students, the Social Mother Programme and the concepts in Buddhism that can help oneself to eradicate themselves from drugs.
Another vibrant performance by the National Youth Council took place. Thereafter, the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Mr Deshabandu Tennekoon addressed the audience. He touched on his history with the Sri Lankan Police. He also spoke of the impact of Heroin in Sri Lanka. Due to the valiant effort of the Yukthiya, the drug supply has been reduced and prices have increased and therefore become more difficult for the public to access.
T-shirts were awarded to those enrolled in the drug prevention program by Professor Karunaratne, IGP Deshabandu Tennekoon, and two other officers. The Vice-Chancellor then addressed the audience. He congratulated IGP Tennekoon on his new appointment and spoke of him being an alumnus of the University of Colombo. He also stressed the importance of drug eradication and that the University will be of utmost support by any means necessary.
