Schoolchildren ...

It was revealed the drug menace had completely affected the Batakaththara, Madapatha, L. S.watte, Kahapola and Makandana areas and is popular among the schoolchildren as “Paspanguwa” due to its distribution in five ways. Among the drugs found were toxic arecanut (Mawa), tablets, Kerala Cannabis, toxic powder and toxic drinks. When the Daily Mirror inquired into the matter it was revealed that drug peddling in the entire area had been conducted under the protection of some local politicians. The drug peddlers are reportedly using a new technique to addict schoolchildren into the drugs by introducing the toxic arecanut and toxic drinks from the ages of 10 to 14 for a lesser price. The toxic powder, Kerala Ganja and tablets are given to upper class students including advanced level students in the area. Also it had been reveled that the students were attracted to these drugs in Internet Cafe’s in the area, near Sunday Schools and the schools. When contacted, some residents who wanted to remain anonymous due to threats by drug peddlers said one third of the schoolchildren are already addicted and some of them had abandoned school and selling the drugs due to the benefits given by the drug peddlers. It was also learnt that many students have been caught with drugs in some main schools in the area, however the school authorities had not exposed it as the incident would tarnish the schools’ good name. These areas in Piliyandala also popular for illicit liquor, however the police had so far failed to take preventable measures to stop illegal activities in the area.

Residents in the area said even though lawsuits had been filed and several attempts made to eradicate the situation, the local politicians had foiled those efforts. It was learnt that several candidates contesting the local government election are directly involved in drug peddling in the area. Even though steps have been taken to stop drug trafficking in the country under the President Maithripala Sirisena’s concept of “A country free of Intoxicants”, yet sufficient steps have not been taken to stop the local drug peddling conducted by the local politicians. Illicit liquor and drugs in Piliyandala had already destroyed many schoolchildren’s lives therefore sufficient action should be immediately taken before it spreads to the other surrounding areas.