Program to Establish the District Counselling Officer Pool for the Polonnaruwa District

The Polonnaruwa District event of the program series to establish a District Counselling Officer Pool was held on 07 October 2026 at the Ancient Technology Museum Auditorium in Polonnaruwa.

The initiative was launched with the primary objective of overcoming obstacles to the success of pre- and post-rehabilitation monitoring, which had been hindered by a lack of counselling officers attached to the District Rehabilitation Coordinating Offices under this Bureau.
Conceptualised by Senior Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, Chairperson of the Bureau of Rehabilitation, the program was presided over by the Divisional Secretary of Thamankadukwa, Mr W. M. I. Karunaratne. The event was attended by the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, Brigadier Shiran Amith; Additional Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, Brigadier Prasanna Priyalal; Senior Psychological Counsellor at the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Mrs Prabha Yatawara; along with officials from the Rehabilitation Bureau and counselling officers representing the Polonnaruwa District.

Welcoming the attendees, the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation emphasised that counselling support is vital to rebuilding broken family units and strengthening household relationships. He noted that follow-up counselling should address the impact of educational backgrounds on substance addiction, stressing that counselling is not the conclusion of the rehabilitation process, but rather the beginning of long-term, positive change. He further called upon the attending counselling officers to directly contribute towards combating the current drug menace.

Addressing the gathered counselling officers, the Divisional Secretary highlighted the significance of the rehabilitation process to a nation, stating that prioritizing rehabilitation is essential when planning for a country’s future. He stressed the need to view rehabilitation within the social framework from a fresh perspective, encouraging officers to reach out to those in need of rehabilitation within society and contribute towards rescuing individuals from life tragedies.

The resource capacity of the counselling officers selected for this pool will be utilised for pre- and post-monitoring processes. Accordingly, Mrs Prabha Yatawara, Senior Psychological Counsellor at the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, delivered a special lecture focusing on creating a positive mindset within the family regarding the rehabilitated individual, laying the necessary foundation for smooth reintegration, maintaining healthy family relationships post-reintegration, and providing the required guidance to prevent relapse. Additionally, Mrs. Nimaya Priyamali, Counselling Officer at the Navodawa Tertiary and Vocational Training Centre, shared key insights regarding the psychological state of rehabilitated individuals and the essential factors to consider when working with them directly during counselling sessions.