A discussion on the establishment of a center in the Northern Province to provide treatment and rehabilitation for individuals addicted to lethal drugs was held yesterday, Tuesday (08.07.2025), at the Governor’s Secretariat, under the chairmanship of the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan
Welcoming the delegation led by the Director General of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, S. Kothalawala, who attended the discussion, the Governor emphasized the urgent need to establish a treatment and rehabilitation center in the Northern Province, citing the rising number of individuals addicted to narcotics. He also outlined the steps previously taken in this regard.
The Director General outlined the activities of the National Hazardous Substances Control Board and expressed the board’s commitment to establishing a treatment and rehabilitation center in the Northern Province this year. A request was made to conduct training workshops for career guidance and counselling for teachers and to implement student awareness programs through them. The Governor further emphasized the importance of extending such awareness initiatives to the community level. It was also noted that, apart from Jaffna, the other four districts in the Northern Province lack officers from the National Hazardous Substances Control Board. To address this gap, it was proposed to identify suitable individuals currently serving as development officers and provide them with the necessary training.
Following this, potential locations for establishing the treatment and rehabilitation center were explored. The Director General of the National Hazardous Substances Control Board emphasized the need for a permanent facility. Accordingly, he stated that site visits will be conducted to assess the suitability of the Krishnapuram area in Kilinochchi and the safe house in Mullaitivu town for this purpose. Furthermore, the possibility of utilizing regional hospitals with adequate space to establish drop-in centers in each Divisional Secretariat division was also discussed. As part of the first phase, it was decided to set up service centers in each district. The Governor instructed that this initiative be implemented without delay.
The discussion was attended by the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, Secretary to the Governor, Secretary to the Ministry of Health of the Northern Province, District Secretaries of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Mannar, Additional District Secretary of Kilinochchi, Commissioner of Probation & Child Care Department, Northern Province, Director of Health Services of the Northern Province, Regional Director of Health Services – Jaffna, Director of Education of the Northern Province, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Additionally, the Judicial Medical Officer of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital participated via the Zoom.
