Circular to Establish Anti-Narcotics Committees in All State and Educational Institutions: Ananda Wijeyapala

17-Nov-2025

.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijeyapala announced that a circular will be issued directing all government institutions, schools, and educational establishments to set up anti-narcotics committees aimed at curbing drug use and eliminating demand.

The circular, to be released on November 17 through the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, will require heads of institutions to ensure their premises remain drug-free. If drug users or traffickers are detected within an institution, its head will be responsible for initiating disciplinary action and handing over the offenders to the police.

A similar circular will be issued on the same day through the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, instructing all schools, universities, and educational institutions to form anti-narcotics committees. The Minister noted that reports of drug use have even emerged from remote rural schools, making such measures essential.

A new hotline, 1818, has been introduced to enable the public to provide information on drug-related activities. 

A National Narcotics Board office is also scheduled to open on the 22nd. The hotline, currently run temporarily through the Presidential Secretariat, received nearly 1,000 complaints within its first five days. Based on the information received, police have already conducted several raids, the Minister added.