Ilma International Girl’s School conducts Drug awareness and ‘Plant a tree’ campaigns

The National Narc o t i c Prevention week, which was launched by P re s i d e n t Maithripala Sirisena, was implemented from the 21st to the 28th of June 2019. Special attention was given to eradicate the use of illegal drugs.

This aided in making paramount changes to the perspectives of society at large, regarding the use of drugs and other harmful substances.

Ilma International Girls’ School conducted a special programme with regards to drug eradication on the 28th of June. This was inaugurated by the planting of trees under the patronage of SP G. Nishantha De Soyza- Colombo South, ASP Ajith Abeywardene - Colombo South 2, Mr Sisira Kumara Gamage - OIC Community Police Kirulapone, Mr Upul Samarasinhe - Chief Inspector and OIC Kirulapone Police, Mr. M. A. M Hakeem - Head of Department and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public and International Law and University of Colombo.

On the same day, a tree planting campaign was organised by the Environmental Management Society of Ilma International Girls’ School in collaboration with the Community Police Division of Kirulapone, which saw a few tender young saplings being given a home in the soil of Ilma International Girls’ School.

The campaign was carried out successfully by the members of the Society along with the teachers- in- charge and the special guests, a team of Po l i c e Constables. Abiding by the 3 R’sReduce, Reuse and Recycle, old plastic bottles were recycled into plant pots, with the saplings being gently lifted into them.

Thus, Ilma International Girls’ School takes pride in conserving the environment, for it is also a part of Islam to give back to the planet. We firmly believe that if each of us do our part in taking care of it, the world would be a much better place to live in.

Mr M. A. M Hakeem then officially commenced the Drug Awareness programme by captivating the audience’s attention with his powerfully imperative messages; being patriotic to one’s motherland and being socially and morally responsible citizens of Sri Lanka.

This was followed by an interactive session conducted by Mr Chamara Pradeep Karunaratne ( Education and Information Of f i c e r for the Nat i o n a l Dangerous Drug Control Board). He addressed the teachers and students on the three forms of addiction ( technology, drugs and sex), after which a power point presentation was displayed. Thereafter, a Q& A session was conducted and the students who answered correctly were awarded with certificates.

The icing on the cake was the performance of an impromptu song by Mr. Chamara Pradeep, which was well received by the audience, judging by the resounding sound of clapping that echoed throughout the hall. All’s well that ends well, and so did this occasion, ending with the distribution of cacti in pots, to all of the guests, as tokens of appreciation for their invaluable presence. A fitting conclusion to a day that encouraged awareness of both the outer environment and the environment within all of us.