The government is planning to introduce drug testing kits through pharmacies, enabling parents to privately check whether their children are involved in drug use, as part of a broader national strategy to combat narcotics.

The proposal was discussed at the meeting of the “A Nation United” National Steering Council for the Eradication of the Drug Menace, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the meeting, the President emphasized the need for all relevant institutions to implement a coordinated national action plan to eradicate drug abuse. He also directed that progress reports on the responsibilities and programmes undertaken by each institution be presented at the council’s next meeting.

Special attention was given to preventing drug use among schoolchildren. Officials revealed that 225 awareness programmes targeting teachers and students have already been conducted, while universities have established student peer groups to carry out anti-drug awareness campaigns.