National drug policy law erroneously prepared

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The draft of the National Drug Policy Implementation Act (DPIA), which was handed back to the Health Ministry by the former Chief Legal Draftsman after a lapse of one year, has been erroneously prepared with a series of important provisions missing.

Chief Legal Officer of the Health Ministry, Riaza Ahmed told The Island yesterday that a new committee, appointed by the Secretary to the Health Ministry Dr. Ravindra Ruberu, had been entrusted with the task of drafting a new bill with the incorporation of essential provisions to be sent to the Chief Legal Draftman once again.

Meanwhile, the legislation making it compulsory to have pictorial warnings on all packets of cigarettes would be ready in a matter of weeks. The Legal Draftsman’s Department has now sent it to the Health Ministry’s Chief Legal Officer who has already sent it to the printer for sample colour printouts. Once the Chief Legal Officer received it, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena would issue a special gazette notification on the new legislation, Health Ministry Chief Legal Officer Ms. Riyaza Ahemed said.

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