By V. K. J. Ramanayake
(June 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The United Nations, has declared " 1991 to 2000 as a decade against narcotic drug abuse." The official theme of the U.N was the need for, mobilising communities to prevent drug abuse. Politicians, Parents, Religious and Lay Leaders, the community must bond together to arrest this dangerous trend of increasing drug addiction by youth and school children. In Sri Lanka the narcotic drug problem has become so acute as about 30% of the Prison inmates consisted of drug related criminals and about eighty per cent of them the flowering youth of the nation. Thousands of young lives have been wasted meaninglessly and very tragically. The resulting pain of mind and sorrows to parents are immeasurable and unbearable.
Immediate attention must be given to educating the public on the dangers of drug Consumption and vigilance of the community leaders is absolutely essential. The Colombo Plan International Society has conducted many programmes for creating an awareness and educating the rural village leaders, School Principals and teachers Education Officials and Grama Seva Officers and Senior Students in various Divisional Secretary Divisions in the Colombo District.
The Lord Buddha preached, " The desire for material things and the desire for sensual pleasure make people self-fish and unsuitable. Such people have to think of themselves and do not care for what happens to other people by their selfish actions."
A recent survey done in Sri Lanka has revealed that there are some 300,000 youth addicted to drugs and numbers are ever increasing. The state incurs heavy expenditure on rehabilitating the drug addicts. The upkeep of drug addict prisoners also costs the state over Rs. 8000/- a day. The Colombo Plan International Society has campaigned vigorously for the establishment of separate Prisons for drug offenders, who amount to about 35% of the prison population The drug addicts should be separated from common criminals as the drug addicts find ingenious ways to smuggle drugs inside the Prisons and induce other inmates to their habit. The state announced sometime ago that they will establish separate Prisons at Pallekelle, Talduwa and Wirawila exclusively for drug offenders. We urge the state to immediately act on these measures which are vital for arresting the spread of this scourge to our society.
The INTERPOL warned Sri Lanka Police sometime ago that our country has become a major transit point for drug smuggling from the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent Poppy fields with the open economy policy of the state had opened more opportunity for illicit drug trade. According to Interpol the world drug trade involves over 500 Billion USS# and the street value of a kilo was estimated at USS# 20,000 in America and about USS 35,000/= in Europe. It has become a very lucrative world trade and in many countries terrorist activities are funded by this trade.
The Colombo Plan Secretariat which conducts educational awareness programmes in South Asia for nearly 30 years has been commended for their services to save the youth in the region from becoming addicts. We are glad that the U.S.A and Japan after joining the Colombo Plan Bureau in 1956, assisting with funds for this purpose.
We are glad that the Sri Lanka state has approved a proposal to ban tobacco smoking and tobacco and liquor related advertisements or sponsorship of any sort. This and the drug abuse offences are strictly enforced in Singapore with severe penalties including death penalty. In Sri Lanka the politicians should not interfere with the Police, The Excise and Customs in offences related to drug abuse in the interest of saving the youth of the nation from addiction. It can happen in Sri Lanka only, that a High Court judge was murdered by Aged drug traffickers. This is a national problem -and every citizen must be aware of the danger of drug addiction by school children and the youth. Parental care is of paramount importance to save their children from the tragic end for them to regret later.
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world according to the WHO-In Sri Lanka over Rs. 100, 15 0 million worth of cigarettes are burnt daily. If a person smokes 10 fags a day the annual figure comes to a staggering sum of Rs. 67,500/. The Father should set apart this cash to provide milk foods, clothing, books and medicines to their own children who will look after them in old age..
On a visit to the Singapore Anti-Narcotic Association, I was able to discuss some the measurers adopted by them to combat this problem They have successfully tackled the area and there are only a few offenders now there, because their politician and law enforcement officers are very honest. The Home Ministry of Singapore have found that the majority of the drug offenders had criminal records. 2. Many committed crimes such as thefts to support their drug habit. 3 Most addicts started by smoking in their teens and many had friends and relatives as addicts. 4. It was also found that many addicts lacked family care empathy and support for a clear direction in life.
It is very important that the parents sit to-gether with their children daily for dinner and discuss their problem and render love affection care and advise.
(The writer,former President, and Trustee, Colombo Plan International Society)
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