He has told BBC Sandeshaya that this increase was due to public issues such as loss and disappearances of relatives, loss of hope, family and economic problems, remaining unresolved despite the end of the war.

The provincial health ministry alone cannot carry out programmes to discourage drug use, he said, calling on everyone to give a lending hand, while strictly enforcing the law against offenders.

Satyalingam has gone onto say that the province’s close proximity to India was one reason for the regular flow of drugs into the province.

During a recent visit to the north, president Maithripala Sirisena said the increase in drug use was more dangerous than the use of firearms.

The government has launched several programmes to minimize drug use in the province, he said.

Another phase of drug eradication programme

Meanwhile, the fifth phase of the national drug eradication programme will take place in Kurunegala under the patronage of the president today.

The programme aims to bring down by 80 per cent by 2020 the production, transportation and sale of drugs and to reduce alcohol use by 25 pc and tobacco use by 50 pc.

The previous phases of the programme have taken place in Gampaha, Galle, Kegalle and Colombo districts.