The island-wide anti-drug operation, under the theme “Nation United – National Drive” is scheduled to commence this morning.

The inauguration ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The government has emphasised that the campaign will be carried out with broad public participation, extending beyond the involvement of state institutions.

To ensure effective implementation, a multi-tiered organizational structure will be established — including District Steering Committees, Regional Steering Committees, and Public Safety Committees at the grassroots level.

The “A Nation United” National Steering Council, comprising 23 member organizations representing diverse sectors of society, will function as the central operational body.

The National Steering Council, chaired by the President, has already been established to spearhead the island-wide initiative, with the Secretary to the President serving as the Council’s Secretary.

The main objective of the program is to eliminate the threat of narcotic drugs and drug trafficking, which have endangered the lives of the country’s youth and schoolchildren.

Accordingly, schools, universities, the police, the tri-forces, divisional secretariats, and local government institutions will join this program starting from today, the Office of the President said.

In parallel, officials from provincial councils, district secretariats, divisional secretariats, and local government bodies are also expected to make a formal pledge to support the program.