After the defeat of terrorism, the eradication of the drug menace will be the next humanitarian mission in Sri Lanka, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his message for World Day against Drug Abuse on 26th June.

Out of 29,796 people arrested for drugs in Sri Lanka last year, almost all men were over the age of 30 years (60%). Of these, 9,520 were for use of heroin, 20,259 for cannabis, 12 for hashish and one for cocaine. The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board said that this amount showed an increase of 50% compared to 2009.

Colombo is the most affected area with 37.5% of arrests, followed by Gamapaha with 10% and Kalutara with 4.5%. There are also boys between 20 and 30 amounting to 12% while cases of minors between 15 and 18 years representing 0.38%. The NDDCB also said that the number of persons arrested for heroin and cannabis has increased by 75% and 52%.

Meanwhile, Yury Fedotov, President of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said: "Prevention begins with the collaboration of families, teachers, youth leaders and mentors. We must begin to think globally and act locally, to reduce the consumption and trafficking of drugs".