COLOMBO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's police department has planned to open 250 drug rehabilitation centers in March with the goal of concurrently assisting 10,000 individuals in overcoming drug addiction, state media reported on Monday quoting the police chief.
Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon was quoted as saying that they will help people recover from addiction through a practical and scientific program prepared with the support of the Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
Tennakoon said around 100,000 Sri Lankans are addicted to drugs, but existing drug rehabilitation centers can only help 4,700 annually.
According to Sri Lanka's National Audit Office, 53 percent of total inmates were incarcerated for drug-related offenses with the majority of prisoners being between the age of 30 and 40. ■
