COLOMBO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs has begun training 300 new counselors to support nationwide drug prevention efforts, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The training was conducted by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. The ministry said that counseling, treatment, and public education are key components of the government's national anti-drug initiative, "A Nation United."
Authorities have already taken steps to expand treatment facilities, rehabilitation centers, and counseling services for individuals struggling with addiction across the country, it said.
Presenting the 2026 national budget in parliament on Friday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced an allocation of 1.5 billion rupees (about 5 million U.S. dollars) for the "A Nation United" campaign. The government also plans to establish 10 voluntary drug rehabilitation centers in 10 island-wide locations in 2026. ■