– The Education Ministry has announced a complete ban on the promotion and use of alcohol and drugs at any event organized using a school’s logo.The Ministry Secretary has been empowered to immediately ban any event where such substances are promoted or used.

Deputy Director of the Co-Curricular Guidance and Counselling Branch of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mahesh Rathnayake, made the announcement while addressing a media briefing held at the headquarters of the ‘Rata Ma Ekata’ national program.

Parents have repeatedly raised concerns that students are being exposed to drugs during major cricket matches involving leading schools.Accordingly, Rathnayake stressed that any program conducted using a school logo will be considered a school event, and that the use of alcohol or drugs at such events will be completely prohibited going forward.