The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity. Drug use is seen nationwide, but post-war it is particularly severe in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. We must see this as a social consequence of the war and apply national laws fully. Without strict enforcement, we cannot curb use. Alcohol age limits must be enforced. There are too many liquor outlets in our areas; they must be regulated. Public drinking must be controlled. The Police have adequate powers to curb illicit liquor production but have not used them effectively.

¶ 02 The Northern Provincial Administration has set up medical rehabilitation centres in all five districts: Jaffna (Chavakachcheri), Kilinochchi (Dharmapuram), Mullaitivu (Oddusuddan), Vavuniya (Poovarasankulam) and Mannar (Adampan). These centres are under the Health Department. I urge the Hon. Minister of Health to promptly staff these centres and operationalize them.