Education Ministry bans alcohol, drugs at school events

The Education Ministry has imposed a complete ban on the promotion and use of alcohol and drugs at any event conducted under a school’s name or logo, including major school cricket matches.

Education Ministry Circular No. 2026/10 empowers the Ministry Secretary to immediately prohibit any event found to be violating the directive.

Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Co-Curricular Guidance and Counselling Branch, Mahesh Rathnayake, announced the measure yesterday while addressing a media briefing held at the headquarters of the ‘Rata Ma Ekata’ national programme.

Rathnayake said any event conducted using a school’s name or logo would be considered a school event and would therefore be subject to the new prohibition.

The move follows repeated complaints from parents that students were being exposed to alcohol and drugs at major cricket encounters involving leading schools.

“Any event representing a school or using its logo is prohibited from promoting drugs and alcohol,” a Ministry official said, stressing that intoxicating substances could not be used at events conducted under a school identity.

The Ministry said the directive would be strictly enforced and monitored, particularly at major school sporting events.