Sri Lanka: UNODC enhances policy engagement and partnerships to strengthen responses against drugs and organized crime

Colombo, Sri Lanka/19 September 2023: South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, confront a host of issues concerning the illicit drug trade, encompassing drug production, transit, and consumption. These multifaceted challenges have profound implications for regional security, public health, and overall stability. In recent years, Sri Lanka has been affected more seriously by narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances such as heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine amidst unprecedented economic crisis.

In response to this, the Government of Sri Lanka has implemented an approach, with key policy elements of the National Policy for Drugs which cover a complete spectrum--such as demand reduction, drug supply control, effective coordination, and research, among others. This is important, in view of the emerging statistics: according to data reported by state authorities in 2023, the number of drug-related arrests markedly increased by 13% amid the economic crisis (152,979 persons were arrested for drug-related offences in 2022). At the same time, community-based treatment and recovery support programmes are not widely available across the country in the continuum of care after treatment, which could lead to a high relapse rate.

Socio-economic crises can exacerbate existing threats from drug use and illicit trafficking, subsequently fueling crime and violence within societies. Such situations significantly jeopardize public safety, governance, peace and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Moreover, the adverse impacts of this crisis are particularly felt by young people, women, and vulnerable groups, who are often more susceptible to the negative consequences of drug-related crime and violence. To address these complex challenges, it is imperative to strengthen coordinated responses to drug use with evidence-based drug demand reduction approaches.

With funding support from the Government and People of Japan and UNODC’s regular programme for technical cooperation, UNODC has provided technical assistance to Sri Lanka in this direction since 2020, in close coordination and collaboration with relevant ministries and partners.

Furthermore, in order to strengthen concerted efforts to exacerbating drug use at an exponential rate amid of economic challenges, UNODC convened key stakeholders from diverse fields--including civil society, public security, health, education, criminal justice and UN agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF -- in a pivotal coordination meeting led by Ms. Damayanthi Karunarathna, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Shakya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), Government of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka and Mr. Marco Teixeira, UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia, among others.

The meeting witnessed the unveiling of technical assistance interventions by UNODC, the Colombo Plan, and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During the discussions, a notable announcement came from the chairman of the NDDCB, who highlighted the Board’s commitment to strengthening community-based treatment and care approaches with the support of UNODC and JICA. This strategic shift holds the promise of making a profound impact on drug demand reduction in Sri Lanka, underscoring the collective commitment to this vital cause.

Highlighting the importance of evidence-based, quality prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services and coordinated responses, Mr. Teixeira said, “Behind each statistic, there are individual stories of men, women and children with hopes for their lives. If one of us were seeking drug use disorder treatment for a friend or a family member in our neighborhood, we would like to have the assurance that the treatment provided is in line with quality and ethical standards.”

UNODC’s experts also advocated for a balanced approach to address the problem, with a focus on empowering families, in an open discussion with Mr. Shakya Nanayakkara, the chairman from NDDCB, Dr. Champika Wickramasinghe, Deputy Director General for non-communicable diseases from the Ministry of Health, and Mr. Teixeira. Discussions focused on evidence-based prevention approaches and strategies to reinforce drug use prevention in Sri Lanka.

The culmination of this multi-pronged initiative was a two-day training of facilitators on UNODC’s flagship Strong Families Programme, which brought together participants from NDDCB and civil society. The training equipped participants with the skills, knowledge and tools to build stronger families and communities, which ultimately serve as the bulwark against drug use. “We offer a combination of parenting knowledge, skills building, competency enhancement and support while reducing risky behaviours with training and education,” Mr. Teixeira emphasized.

UNODC, in collaboration with the Government of Japan and dedicated national stakeholders have intensified coordination and collaboration in this sphere, reaffirming the unwavering commitment to prevent and address the drug problem in Sri Lanka. Significantly, UNODC and JICA's technical support to NDDCB's shift towards community-based treatment and care approaches, is poised to make a substantial impact.

The events were organized jointly by UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), Programme Office for Sri Lanka (POLKA), and Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) in Vienna, with funding support from the Government and People of Japan in collaboration with relevant Sri Lanka line-ministries, civil society, technical partners and UN agencies.

The activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/   

(Supported by the Government of Japan)