News
Media draws flak over coverage of drug abuse
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sensational reports by some sectors about the spread of drugs among schoolchildren is likely to be politically motivated, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa, told journalists in Colombo on Monday.
Rajapaksa said that only 9.1 percent of Sri Lankans now smoked. The number consuming betel had dropped to 13 percent and the intake of alcohol, too, had reduced in the last three years, Rajapaksa said.
“When you look at this trend it is obvious that there is an attempt to exaggerate the use of drugs among schoolchildren. It seems politically motivated to me. However, doing this kind of propaganda, targeting schoolchildren, is wrong,” he said.
Rajapaksa said in recent weeks some media institutions have been airing sensational reports on drug use, among children, to boost their ratings.
“They are creating an environment where children are placed in danger. They are trying to create an impression that hard drugs are prevalent in all schools,” he said.
Prof. Pujitha Wickramasinghe, a paediatrician, who also addressed the conference said that most of the journalists have no idea about the types of narcotics.
“If there is a discussion on heroin, they say everything that is detected as heroin. Now they are doing the same with crystal methamphetamine or ICE. This kind of reporting is like indirect advertising to popularize drugs,” he said.
Prof. Wickramasinghe said that when TV stations broadcast stories about drugs, they should refrain from airing images that are not relevant to the story. Media has a big responsibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Shakya Nanayakkara said that about 40,000 Sri Lankans die each year due to the abuse of tobacco and alcohol.
“When these people die, tobacco and alcohol companies need to attract 40,000 new customers. However, the abusers of tobacco and alcohol are declining. If you look at this logically, if those who use tobacco and alcohol are declining, it is also obvious that the number of people who use harder drugs should have also declined,” he said.
Nanayakkara said in recent years there is an increase in the use of crystal methamphetamine or ICE among drug users. However, there is no data to support claims that a large number of students are abusing crystal methamphetamine, he said.
“There is a lot of misinformation too. People tell us that kids are chewing ICE. You can’t ingest crystal metamphetamine by chewing them or in lozenges. A lot of alleged narcotics targeted for children are brought to our lab and when we analyze it most of these products have no narcotic properties while some have cannabis compounds. There is no doubt that we must be vigilant about school children, but the threat posed by tobacco and alcohol is more,” he said.
Ratnapura District SJB MP Hesha Withanage yesterday tabled several documents in Parliament to substantiate his allegations against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). He presented an Executive Committee meeting minute, claiming that according to it, payments to IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon had been approved.
The MP said that the SLC Executive Committee had appointed Tennakoon, the then Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, as an Advisor to the Security Consultant of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The contract, effective from August 16, 2021, included a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000, 200 litres of fuel per month, a Rs. 5,000 mobile phone allowance, a laptop, a mobile phone, and medical insurance, MP Withanage told Parliament.
The MP tabled the document in the House in response to SLC’s recent denial of his claims. The SLC had previously dismissed allegations that Tennakoon had been paid or provided with perks, calling them baseless and false.
The SLC denial came after Withanage, commencing the Committee Stage budget debate under the Head of Expenditure of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, claimed on Tuesday (18) that IGP Tennakoon had been on the payroll of SLC.
MP Withanage criticised the government, stating it had no intention of preventing the accused group from contesting the upcoming SLC election on 31 March. He also accused the current Sports Minister of supporting a corrupt faction within SLC and announced plans to take legal action over the matter.
“This denial by SLC is irrelevant,” Withanage said. “We have a copy of the report approved by the Executive Committee.”
By Saman Indrajith
Election Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday announced that the Local Government (LG) elections would be held on 6 May 2025.The date was revealed during a special media briefing following the conclusion of the submission of nominations for LG polls.
Nominations for 336 LG institutions, which began on 17 March, were officially closed at 12:00 noon yesterday. Additionally, the deadline for placing deposits ended at midnight on 19 March.The EC said 17,296,330 persopns were eligible to vote in this year’s LG elections.
by Ranil Dharmasena
The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a successful shipwreck expedition from 10 to 17 March focusing on historically significant shipwrecks located in the sea area off the coast of Colombo.
The expedition was carried out to document the current state of numerous shipwrecks lying beneath the waves, off Colombo. The survey included the Coal Wreck, Chief Dragon Car Carrier, MV Astoria, MT Nilgiri, Thermopylae Sierra, MV Pecheur Breton, Taprobane East Wreck, SS Worcestershire, Toilet Barge, SS Perseus and some other unidentified wrecks, according to the Navy.
Navy divers explored a series of shipwrecks, including the historically significant SS Worcestershire and SS Perseus, both sunk during World War I. Beyond their historical value, the wrecks of the Chief Dragon Car Carrier and Thermopylae Sierra are now functioning as thriving artificial reefs, providing habitats for a variety of marine species.
A total of 14 diving officers and 15 diving sailors participated in this intensive shipwreck expedition. They used both atmospheric air and nitrox air mix as breathing agents, depending on depth and dive duration. This enhanced safety and efficiency, particularly for deeper and more complex dives.
Showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
‘Deshabandu is on SLC payroll’; Hesha tables documents
LG polls on 06 May
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