A discussion to review the operations of the 1818 hotline and progress made in its implementation was held this morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the chairmanship of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The hotline was introduced as part of the ‘A Nation United’ national operation to eradicate the illicit drug menace.
The hotline was established to enable the public to provide security authorities with accurate information on drug trafficking, distribution and any related suspicious activities taking place across the country. Members of the public anywhere in Sri Lanka can submit information through this service, with the confidentiality of informants fully protected. The information received is acted upon promptly. Operating from the ‘A Nation United’ Media Centre, the service is coordinated under the direct supervision of the Presidential Secretariat and the ‘A Nation United’ National Steering Committee. It enables members of the public to provide information to security authorities securely at any time.
The discussion also focused on the first anniversary of the ‘A Nation United’ national operation, which falls on 05 November and measures to strengthen its effectiveness in protecting future generations from the drug menace and building a safe, drug-free society.
Venerable Madovita Vajira Buddhi Thera, Director (Piriven) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Prince Senadheera, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya, Inspector General of Police, H. S. K. J. Bandara, Director General of the Department of Government Information, Gamini Senaratne, Commissioner-General of Buddhist Affairs, Chathuri Pintu, Director of the Department of Christian Religious Affairs, Y. Aniruthanan, Director of the Department of Hindu Religious Affairs and M. S. M. Nawaz, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious Affairs, also attended the meeting. A group of officials representing the tri-forces and other relevant government institutions were also present.
