Sri Lanka | South Asia-Pacific Division (SSD)
On September 23, 2018, a national chapter of the International Commission for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (ICPA) was inaugurated in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ICPA focuses its efforts on prevention. Facts and figures alone do not change people’s habits and behaviors. Nurturing, supportive relationships and connectedness do by developing resilience, which is the ability to cope despite difficult circumstances. This is the really hard work of prevention. The tireless efforts of Mr. Ashoka Kumara, Health Ministries director for Sri Lanka, brought together government and NGO officials, faith-based groups, advocates and scholars. Drs. Landless and Alfanoso represented the international and regional ICPA offices respectively. The engagement and participation of young people was especially remarkable! There were excellent presentations throughout the day, much networking, beautiful music and an overall dedicated commitment to make the difference in preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and addictive behaviors in the beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka.
