Ceremony to felicitate community correctional officers tomorrow

A felicitation ceremony for officials who have worked to reform 358 dangerous drug offenders under the provisions of the Community-Based Corrections Act (No. 46 of 1999) will be held at the Kandyan Reach Hotel, Kurunegala at 2.00 p.m. tomorrow.

The North Western (Wayamba) Province has a high incidence of drug abuse. Up to 469 offending drug abusers in the province were to be rehabilitated under a special program which was launched in July this year, 358 of whom have successfully quelled their addictions - a success rate of 76%. Of the 358 ex-offenders, 200 will be present at the ceremony which is to be held under the patronage of the Secretary to the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs.