Plans have been made to hold an anti-drug youth summit on June 26 under the “A Nation United” national programme aimed at eradicating the drug menace, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
A discussion on the initial organisational arrangements for the summit was held this afternoon (21) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The summit is being jointly organised by the National Youth Services Council and the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
According to the PMD, the initiative seeks to mobilise youth at the grassroots level to protect the younger generation from drug abuse and to demonstrate the rejection of drug traffickers by Sri Lanka’s youth community.
The statement noted that survey reports indicate the country’s younger generation is increasingly facing serious social, economic and health-related challenges due to drug abuse.
It further stated that individuals between the ages of 20 and 35 are among the most affected, with the crisis significantly impacting the productivity of the national workforce.
As part of the government’s efforts to combat the issue and rescue young people from the dangers of narcotics, the “A Nation United” national programme has been launched.
The PMD added that extensive discussions were held during the meeting regarding the plans and preliminary organisational activities for the upcoming anti-drug youth summit.
Several senior government officials, including ministry secretaries, heads of institutions, and senior officers from the Tri-Forces and Police, were present at the discussion.
