Third Workshop of the Counselling Officers’ Awareness Programme – Polonnaruwa District

In line with the current Government’s national initiative “Ratama Ekata” aimed at eliminating drug abuse, the Rehabilitation Bureau plays a direct role in implementing rehabilitation programmes and supporting the national effort to eradicate the drug menace. In order to strengthen this national initiative, it is essential to obtain the active participation of both government and non-government institutions and to network them into a coordinated system.

Accordingly, a series of awareness programmes for counselling officers was initiated to build such a network. The third workshop of this series was held on 05 March 2026 at the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat, targeting the Polonnaruwa District, in parallel with Drug Prevention Week.

The workshop was attended by a distinguished gathering including Mr E.M.D.S. Ekanayake, District Secretary of Polonnaruwa; Senior Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Bureau; Brigadier M.S. Amith, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation; Deputy Inspector General Ashoka Dharmasena of the Police Narcotics Bureau; Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manathunga of Polonnaruwa; Professor Amila Isuru, Consultant Psychiatrist and Professor of Psychology at Rajarata University; Mr Danushka Sampath Wijesinghe, representing the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board; and Mr Priyantha Pushpakumara, Chief Jailer of the Polonnaruwa Prison.

In addition, a large number of government officials, invitees, and counselling officers representing the Polonnaruwa District participated in the programme.

A special interactive academic discussion was also conducted during the workshop with the objective of sharing knowledge necessary for building a drug-free society, establishing a coordinated network, and strengthening rehabilitation and drug prevention programmes.