06th May 2026 11:37:55 Hours
Under the guidance and direction of the Commander of the 54 Infantry Division Major General G S K Perera RSP ndc, and in support of the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative aligned with the National Drug Prevention Programme, a series of awareness lectures on the prevention of dangerous drug use has been launched within the area of responsibility of the 542 Infantry Brigade.
As part of this initiative, two awareness programmes targeting the school community in the Mannar District were successfully conducted on 05 May 2026 at Musali National School and Silavathura Government Muslim Mixed School.
These programmes were organized by the 542 Infantry Brigade in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Bureau and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
The first session was held from 0930 hrs to 1100 hrs at Musali National School, benefiting 220 students and members of the teaching staff. The second session took place from 1130 hrs to 1300 hrs at Silavathura Government Muslim Mixed School, with the participation of 100 students and teachers.
The Commander of the 542 Infantry Brigade, Colonel L W B Ridimahaliyadda USP IG, and the Zonal Director of Education Mannar, Mr. K Selvan, graced the occasions as Chief Guests.
The lectures were conducted by Ms. A Sriyāmini Violet, Psychological Counsellor and Senior Lecturer from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, providing valuable insights into the harmful effects of drug use and preventive measures.
The programme was coordinated by the Civil Affairs Officer of the 542 Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel W A N D. Jayasundara. Further assistance was extended by the Commanding Officer of the 8 VIR Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S H R G De Silva RSP psc, along with troops of the respective unit.
