The National Drug Prevention Programme, A Drug-Free Country was held at the Mee Gaha Ela Grounds in Hiriyala, Kurunegala, under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena, on Wednesday.

An investiture ceremony was held for students who contributed to the Drug Prevention Programme. President Sirisena also presented awards to officials who had remained committed to the cause.

The president charged that ‘drugs’ is the main cause for the surge in poverty in the country and it is the low income families in the country who spend the most on narcotics.

“We should all work towards eradicating this social menace as quickly as possible”, he said

He added that poverty, diseases, social rejection and severe economic downfall – these are the serious consequences of the use of drugs.

He requested the support of everyone to take this national programme strong and forward and called for a national movement to take this programme across the country.

Meanwhile, the Technology Faculty of the Kumbukgate Central College was declared open under the auspices of the President.

• Pakistan was headed to Sri Lanka’s ‘default-like situation’ but crisis averted — finance minister
• Bangladesh minister warns against China’s BRI lending, cites Sri Lanka’s example
• 66 Dengue High Risk Zones in Sri Lanka, over 48,000 Dengue cases this year
• USNS Charles Drew in Indian port for repairs.
• Presidential vote: Three MPs allege they were threatened