Silent role played by Navy in drug bust and prevention of drug abuse through its sheer commitment
Drug abuse is often accompanied by a number of harmful social impacts upon the development of a country. Drug addiction has a severe impact not only on the individual but also the economic, social and cultural backgrounds of a nation. The large haul of drugs seized in recent times in the country bears testimony to the fact that Sri Lanka has also unfortunately fallen prey to the drug menace. Mathin Nidahas Ratak (Country Free of Narcotic Drugs) is a visionary concept mooted by His Excellency the President in order to prevent the youths and school going children from drug addiction. Working in line with this national policy, Sri Lanka Navy is currently playing a pivotal role by patrolling the territorial waters around the island, to nip drug smuggling attempts from the bud. Therefore Sri Lanka Navy, with the right foresight, has launched a number of special programmes covering all fronts to fight the drug menace. Apart from that, Sri Lanka Navy is conducting a series of awareness programmes on the prevention of drug abuse for the general public across the country, working hand in hand with the Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention. As a result, similar awareness programmes were successfully conducted in 09 districts including Colombo, Trincomalee, Gampaha, Jaffna, Batticaloa etc. to date.
These awareness programmes are being conducted by a dedicated team of naval officers, counseling officers and naval personnel who are trained as well as well-versed on the given subject. Aiming to do away with the drug menace, these lectures are being held in accordance with ‘Kalana Mithuru Samaja’, ‘Gama Hadagamu’ – special programmes proposed by His Excellency the President as well as ‘Pasalata Nanguramak’ which is a brainchild of Sri Lanka Navy. Under this timely initiative, a number of practically feasible and long term events have been introduced, sans traditional lecturing.
Under ‘Gama Hadagamu’ special programme a wide range of prevention measures such as; forming a lasting framework to decrease the production and selling of illicit drugs in the village, pressurizing the drug peddlers through local populace to stop their operation, encouraging drug peddlers to find alternative job opportunities and supervising them, providing required guidance and assistance to rehabilitate the drug addicts in the community, conducting drug prevention measures at community level and continuing awareness programmes on prevention of drug abuse focusing on the youths and school children in particular villages are conducted. Besides, ‘Kalana Mithuru Samaja’ are also being established centralizing Dhamma Schools to educate the general public through the students attending Dhamma Schools.
Meanwhile, ‘Pasalata Nanguramak’is a tailor-made programme mooted by Sri Lanka Navy to get the active participation of school children for the prevention of drug abuse. Under this programme, school children are educated on the legal framework which is in place for drug related activities and harmful impacts of substance abuse. Through this wide range of initiatives, it is expected to form a drug free society so as to offer a drug free country to the future generation. Besides, the whole responsibility to implement drug prevention programmes operated under ‘Rata Wenuwen Ekata Sitimu’ or stand together for the country program has been vested on Sri Lanka Navy. Accordingly, over 12,000 people were made aware by 200 programmes conducted at village level and prevention programmes on drug abuse were held for approximately 3,800 children being educated at 75 Dhamma Schools, covering all Divisional Secretariats in the Puttalam District from 18th to 22nd March. During these events the public were educated through practical as well as theoretical approaches. Further, a result oriented programme had been organized in collaboration with youth leaders of Divisional Secretariats of Vennappuwa and Chilaw to empower youth population against drug abuse. In similar vein, the Navy in various capacities partners with Divisional Secretariats, Police and non-governmental organizations who undertake a wide range of programmes to rehabilitate illicit drug peddlers and channel them to pursue suitable self-employment, following legal action against them.
