Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesman Jagath Weerasinghe has revealed that more than 230,000 schoolchildren in the Colombo District are addicted to drugs.
He made this alarming disclosure while speaking at a school awareness program on drug prevention held at Godapitiya National School in Akuressa yesterday (27th).
“In the Colombo District of the Western Province alone, 230,982 schoolchildren are drug addicts. I believe the situation in the Southern Province could be even worse. The South ranks first in underworld activities,” Weerasinghe stated.
He further noted that most prisoners in Sri Lanka are young and poorly educated, highlighting a direct link between drug abuse, crime, and lack of education.
Weerasinghe also spoke emotionally about children living in prisons due to crimes committed by their mothers.
“There are 42 children under the age of five living in prisons. If a mother is sentenced to ten years, the child stays with her for five years. After that, they are separated. Those moments are heartbreaking — the child cries for the mother, and the mother cries for the child. It’s the most tragic thing I’ve witnessed,” he said.
He emphasized that the current government is committed to building a drug-free nation, noting ongoing rehabilitation and enforcement efforts.
Meanwhile, Kalutara District DIG Jayantha Padmini Weerasuriya, speaking at a separate event, said the police have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking near schools.
“We have deployed plainclothes officers to monitor suspicious activities. They observe students after school — who they associate with and where they gather. We urge parents and students to report any suspicious behaviour near bus stops or shops,” the DIG said.
