US grants $1 mln to Colombo Plan

by Sarath Malalasekera

US Government grants US $ 1.13 million to Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CPDAP) to conduct several major International and Regional initiative focused on faith-based organisations in drug demand reduction and many training programmes in the areas of drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare.

US Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead and the Colombo Plan Secretary-General Kittipan Kanjanapipatkul signed the agreement for US $ 1.13 million at a brief ceremony held at the US Embassy, Colombo recently.

Continuing its regular contributions to the CPDAP since 1973, this is the biggest ever contribution the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), US Department of State has made to the CPDAP, said Drug Advisory Programme Director Tay Bian How.

These funds would be utilized by the CPDAP specifically to support the establishment and operation of 34 mosque-based prevention and aftercare in Afghanistan- 12 Pesantren (Religious Schools)- based prevention and aftercare programmes in Indonesia, two international conferences of faith-based organisations in drug demand reduction- funding support towards on-going operations of coutreach drop-in centres in six Asian countries, the IV Asian Youth Congress, the II Asian Cities Against Drugs Conference and two Regional Training on Drug Demand Reduction.

Colombo Plan Secretary General Kittipan Kanjanapipatkul thanked the INL and the Government of the United States for their strong support and commitment to drug demand reduction in the Asia-Pacific region.

Deputy Chief of Mission James Entwistle, Political Officer of the US Embassy Ms. Anamika Chakrovorty and Colombo Plan drug Advisory Programme Director Tay Bian How were present at the occasion.