COLOMBO, JAN 03 (DNA) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, has received an international award in recognition of his campaign to eradicate the drug menace, the Government Information Department said here Wednesday.

Sirisena received the award from the Anti-Drug Non-Governmental Organizations Conference.

Sirisena’s leadership towards the anti-drug campaigns, his decision to eradicate drugs and tobacco use in Sri Lanka by 2020 and the efforts taken to achieve this objective were highly appreciated by the international anti drug campaigners.

In addition, Sirisena has also taken steps to make people aware of the drug menace and to propagate Buddhist ethical values in the society, the Government Information Department said.

Sirisena, whilst launching a strong anti drug campaign in the island country last year said his government aimed to end the use of drugs and tobacco by 2020 and law enforcement officials had begun clean up operations to prevent the use and smuggling in of drugs to Sri Lanka.