Awareness programme on prevention of drugs for naval personnel held in Colombo

As part of another step of the series of Navy’s efforts towards drug education, an awareness programme on the prevention of drugs for naval personnel was held at the Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake Auditorium, SLNS Parakrama today (27^th June).

Going by a notion mooted by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, a series of awareness programmes on the prevention of drugs was set in motion for naval personnel, under the supervision of the Provost Marshal, Commodore Dhanesh Pathberiya. Accordingly, the first stage of the programme commenced in February 2019.

The main aim of the programme is to make the naval personnel aware of drug addiction and possible ways to get rid of this social problem that normalizes drug use and affects individuals. As such the programme elucidated the health implications of smoking and use of alcohol, while emphasizing its impacts on social, financial and personnel slump of an individual.

Today’s programme was also attended by Chairman National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Professor Saman Abeysinghe and it was conducted by Mr. Koholannegedara and Mrs. Maheshi Maduwanthi. A large number of naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command were also present on this occasion.

The President His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena has declared a national drug prevention week from 23^rd June to 01st July. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Navy has also launched a range of events in line with that national programme to educate naval personnel and the general public on effects of drug abuse and drug addiction.