A total of 1,874 people under the age of 18 had been arrested in connection with the drug known as ‘Ice’ by 2025, compared with one such arrest recorded in 2022, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Thursday.

The President was addressing a religious summit at Temple Trees in Colombo. He said the figures showed the growing threat that drugs pose to children and the country’s younger generation.

He gave a breakdown of those arrested. Authorities had arrested 11,737 young people over the age of 21, while 10,889 of those arrested were between 18 and 21 years of age. The figures also included 1,068 children aged between 14 and 18 and 13 children aged between five and 14. He said more than 200 girls had also been arrested in connection with drug-related activities.

The President warned that the drug menace was destroying the younger generation and threatening the country’s future.

Background

The President placed the main responsibility for early detection on parents. He said parents were often the first to notice changes in their children’s behaviour and were better placed than others to tell whether a child was becoming involved in drug use or criminal activity.

He said the Government was developing a programme through the Ministry of Education to educate parents about the dangers of drug addiction and the warning signs they should look for.

The President also called on religious leaders to support families facing drug-related problems. He said parents often approached religious leaders before seeking help from the police, which made them an important point of contact for families in difficulty.

According to the President, the Government had organised 259,000 community awareness programmes on drug prevention, with the involvement of the Health Department and other relevant institutions. He said the Government would continue to strengthen rehabilitation facilities and other support services so that young people do not become victims of the drug menace.

The figures were given in a speech and were not accompanied, in the remarks reported, by details of how they were compiled or which agency recorded them. The President did not say in these remarks how many of the arrests led to charges or court proceedings.

What it means

For parents and guardians, the President’s message is that changes in a child’s behaviour are the first warning sign and that families can approach religious leaders, as well as the police, for help. The Ministry of Education programme he described is intended to teach parents what to look for, though no start date was given.

For schools and communities, the stated plan is more awareness programmes and wider rehabilitation and support services. The President did not give a timetable or a budget for the expansion of rehabilitation facilities.