President committed towards encouraging drug-busting officers

President Maithripala Sirisena announced that a special programme would be launched in order to encourage and render due recognition to officers responsible for drug-related arrests.

Accordingly, the President explained that the special programme would aim to provide recommendations for promotions, pay rises, as well as other privileges.

He proceeded to add that a great many programmes would be launched during the course of the next few months, in order to achieve the Government’s goal of creating a drug-free country.

The President expressed these sentiments upon attending the Kalutara regional segment of the ‘Drug Free Nation’ national programme yesterday (19), at the Panadura Municipal Council Sport Ground.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando held a special meeting with the Operations Committee on Dengue Prevention at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (19).

The President’s Media Division reported that the heads of institutions affiliated with the health sector had attended this meeting.

The Committee had suggested handing over to the Principalsof the schools, the responsibility of making school premises free of dengue mosquitoes, as 30 percent of dengue patients were reported to be school children. Accordingly, all Principals across the island will be educated in this regard through the Secretary to the Education Ministry.

The meeting had also discussed the importance of giving priority to districts recognized to be at high risk of dengue.

The issues expected in the process of controlling the spread of dengue due to current weather conditions and the possibility of rain within next few months was also addressed by the gathering.

Attention was then paid towards seeking active contribution from government officers and the public for the dengue prevention projects carried out by the Tri-Forces.

The gathering also discussed ways to strengthen the current dengue control projects.

During the discussion, officials had paid attention towards the possibility of seeking assistance from communication service proveders and information communication institutions to educate the public on dengue prevention measures.

Minister Faiszer Musthapha, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, President’s daughter Chathurika Sirisena, Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils Kamal Padmasiri, Director-General of Health Services Dr. Jayasundara Bandara, District Secretaries, and Commanders of Tri Forces were present at this event, Presidential media sources reported.