In brief
Sri Lanka’s Bureau of Rehabilitation reports that the relapse rate among people who finished rehabilitation fell to 19.21% in the first ten months of 2026, down from 24.5% the previous year. The proportion of individuals staying drug‑free rose to 45.18%. The bureau is spreading awareness, especially in the tourism industry, and urging those with addiction to seek treatment voluntarily.
On Nov. 6, 2026, officials in Colombo announced that Sri Lanka’s drug relapse rate among people who completed rehabilitation programs fell to 19.21% in the first ten months of the year.
The Bureau of Rehabilitation noted that the rate was 24.5% in 2025, meaning a reduction of 5.29 percentage points.
More people remained drug‑free after treatment: the percentage rose from 31.4% in 2025 to 45.18% between January 1 and October 30, 2026, an improvement of 13.78 percentage points.
The bureau is targeting the tourism sector, where 14% of people who sought treatment are employed in hotels and other travel‑related jobs. A series of awareness programs has been launched in districts such as Gampaha and Southern Province, and another targeted program for staff of major tourist hotels in Sigiriya and Dambulla is scheduled for Nov. 9.
These efforts fall under the national anti‑drug operation, called A Nation United, which aims to reduce substance abuse across all communities.
During the briefing, Bureau Director General M.S. Hameed urged anyone struggling with drug addiction—and their families—to seek voluntary rehabilitation rather than wait for legal action.
