Dr. S M Bhadrani
Lecturer/ Resource Person on Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment &
Counselling Gender & Drug Abuse and Research Methods
Visiting Lecturer : Diploma in Drug Abuse Management (DDAM),
Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRA), University of Colombo.
Visiting Lecturer : Certificate Course on Drug Counselling conducted by National
Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) from 2012 to 2023.
National Trainer : National Trainer of ICCE Universal Treatment Curriculum 1-9, conducted
by International Center for certification and Education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE)
Educational Qualifications
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Sociology at the University of Kelaniya,- 2017
Master of Social Sciences (MSsc) in Sociology at the University of Kelaniya,- 2000.
B.A (Hon) degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology with Second Class Lower Division at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 1990.
Professional Qualification
Lecturer on Drug Prevention, Gender & Drug Abuse, Drug Counselling and Research Methodology.
National Trainer of ICCE Universal Treatment Curriculum
Followed Training of National Trainers on ICCE Universal Treatment curriculum 1-8, conducted by International Center for Certification and Education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE), 2012-2015
Visiting Lecturer on Diploma in Drug Abuse Management Studies (DDAMS), Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRA), University of Colombo from 200 to up to data.
Coordinator/Lecture Certificate Course on Drug Counselling conducted by National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB) from 2012 March to up to date.
National Diploma in Counselling conducted by Sri Lanka Foundation 2014/2015
Followed Psychological Counselling and Psycho-Therapies Introductory Training Programme conducted by National Dangerous Drugs Control Board in collaboration with the Community Health Foundation of Sri Lanka, 2012.
National and International experience in drug control, prevention, treatment & rehabilitation, and research
Justice of Peace- All Island
Life Member of Sri Lanka Federation of university Women (SLFUW).
Life Member of Counselling Association of Community Health Foundation.
Academic Thesis/ Publications:
Drug Abuse and Gender ( Published by year 2022)
Gender differences and drug abuse in Sri Lanka
Female Heroin Users in Sri Lanka
"Retuals and beliefs that surround the customary Agricultural economy
Work Experience
Total working experience is 35 years as follows. 30 years’ experience in drug-related research on drug abuse, prevention, treatment &rehabilitation, and supply reduction at the National Dangerous Drug Control Board, 2 years experience in research on Social Sciences and Gender Studies at Center for Women’s Research (Cenwor), 3 years experience in research on Social Sciences and Marketing Research at Survey Research Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd and Market Research Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
Employment Records: -
National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB), 383, Kotte Road, Rajagiriya. Director General (Cover up) 27.01.2023 -12.04.2023
Director General (Attend to work,), – 31.03.2021-10.01.2022, Director General (Cover up) 19.02.2020- 30.03.2021
Totally accountable and responsible for the overall management of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board in all aspects not limited to the areas specified below and the various units represented by Laboratory, administration division, accounts division, education division, outreach, treatment and rehabilitation, research division and Precursor Control Authority.
Guide and Lead staff to achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of the Board to make a drug free country.
Working towards ensuring that the National policy of Drug Control and Prevention is achieved.
Directly involved in all the administrative and financial functions of the Board and ensuring that proper government regulations are followed and carried out, Coordinate to find financial support to conduct drug control activities from various international organizations such as the United Nations of Drugs & Crimes (UNODC), Colombo Plan, and World Health Organization (WHO) from 2004 up to date. Obtained a WHO grant of 8.6 million to enhance the capacities of NDDCB technical staff and field staff in year 2023.
Guided Research Staff and conducted 1st International Symposium on Drug-Related Studies on the 1st and 2nd of December 2022 at the Water’s Edge, Colombo. The Colombo Plan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded.
Engaged and overall supervised all drug prevention and outreach programmes conducted though out the island-wide to control drug abuse and the prevalence of children, youth, and the public in the Country. Conducted teacher training, student prevention and education programs, parenting skills enhancement programs, and school drug prevention policies in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Developed the National project of Expansion of Treatment & Rehabilitation services for drug- dependent persons at the Nawadiganthaya Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of NDDCB in year 2020. Coordinated to find grants to build residential treatment buildings and established two
residential buildings on 26th January 2021 and the 30th of March 2023 under the grant of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the private donors.
Re-established of the Female Drop-in center at Talangama treatment center 0n 4th April 2023.
Engaged in Act amendment of Poison Opium and Dangerous Drugs (PODD) which was brought as new amendment (2022/41) forward on 25th November 2022, Amendment of the Conventions against illicit traffic in Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances Act, No. 01 of 2008, Amended the Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act, No. 54 of 2007, as well as the Gazette regulations, No. 1653/19 of 2010, Overall administrative supervision of the National Narcotics Laboratory.
Providing guidance for the National Narcotic Laboratory (NNL) to the successful implementation of the standard operating procedure for the disposal of seized illicit drugs and Report on Technical Specifications for Disposal Methods in Sri Lanka with the Ministry of Public Security.
Provide guidance to the scientific team of the National Narcotics Laboratory for the pilot project of roadside examination of drug-impaired drivers conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and relevant stakeholders
Coordinating with national and international agencies engaged in drug related works to eradicate drug menace from Sri Lanka
Director - Research, 02.09.2019 – 12.04.2023 -NDDCB Deputy Director –Research 04.03.2017– 02.03.2018 -NDDCB
Planning, formulating, organizing, implementing, directing, coordinating, supervising, monitoring, and evaluating the complete research programme of the Board in accordance with the enabling Act and the National Policy, Writing research proposals and conducting research/ surveys on drug abuse, treatment & rehabilitation, for policy making,
Conducting gender studies and gender sensitization programmes for Drug users families and the community,
Calling for necessary information, collecting data, and particulars, from individuals, government, and non-government organizations.
Building up a reliable and comprehensive information and database on Drug Treatment Rehabilitation and Law enforcement (DAMS), regularly reporting the current drug abuse situation in Sri Lanka to the Board and the coordinating committee and helping it formulate research policy. Advising the Board on future research needs and priorities, Supervision of the Research staff, Supervising and coordinating the work of the UN/WHO/UNODC Project as needed by the Board, Coordinating and supervising computer staff and computer work, Coordinating and compiling the NDDCB newsletter,
Coordinator of the Certificate on Drug Counseling conducted by the NDDCB from 2012 March.
According to the international drug conventions coordinating with United Nation Drug Control
programme (UNODC), International Drug Control Board (INCB) SARAC and WHO for Sri Lankan drug related information sharing
Assistant Director –Research 01.06.2012-02.04. 2017 -NDDCB
Assistant Director –Research/ Lab &Outreach (Acting from 25-11- 2010-31.05.2012)
Supervision and coordinated the Research Staff, Outreach Staff & National Narcotic Laboratory (NNL) staff. Planning, formulating, organizing, implementing, directing, coordinating, supervising, monitoring, and evaluating the complete outreach programme of the Board, Planning and implementation of outreach programmes of the board in accordance with the Act and the National Policy, Monitoring and evaluation of the outreach programmes and the outreach staff, Financing with GOs, NGO’s, and international organizations regarding the outreach programmes and outreach work, Supervision and guidance to develop a network with outreach, treatment, education, and research for developing drug policies, programmes, evaluation, and follow-up work.
Research Officer 02.03.1999 to 24.11.2010 -NDDCB
Formulated and implemented research proposals and projects. Frequent visits to the field and conducting research related to drug abuse, treatment and rehabilitation and published reports, Conducted training programmes on Data Collection and Analysis for Police personnel, NDDCB Treatment staff and Prison Personnel, Information gathering, analysis and documentation related to drug abuse and treatment, Gathering all available data and analyzed for Annual Handbook of Drug Abuse Information.
Assistant Research Officer 02.03.1999 to 01.03.1999 -NDDCB
Assisted in the formulation and implementation of research proposals, Co-ordinate fieldwork and carried out drug abuse, and epidemiological research, Analyzed data and prepared reports, Participated in prevention and treatment activities, Case studies of female drug users, Follow-up study of treated heroin dependents discharged from NDDCB treatment centers, Semi-Annual Prevalence surveys to study the availability of heroin, A study on Research gaps and bibliography on drug abuse studies, Evaluation of female drug offenders in Welikada Prison, Information gathering analysis and documentation related to drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation for NDDCB.
International Training Experience
Participated 2nd SAARC Advocacy Workshop on Advancing Health and Rights based approaches and harm reduction services amongst people who use drugs December 2019 in Nepal
Participated 2nd SAARC Advocacy Workshop on Advancing Health and Rights based approaches and harm reduction services amongst people who use drugs December 2018 in Nepal
Participated Best Practices exposure visit to National Drug and Harm Reduction programme of
India -6th-9th August 2018
Participated 61st Sessions of the Commission Narcotics Drugs (CND) 12-16 March at Vienna 2018
Participated the Seminar on Drug Control for Sri Lanka at Yunnan Police Collage , Kunming, the People’s Republic of China on 4th to 20th 2017
Participated 7th ICCE-ASCAD International Conference on Addictions 10th -14 October 2016 at Melaka, Malaysia
ParticipatedQatar Global Forum on Fight Against Drugs: International experiences in the detection of smuggling routes And methods of concealment on May 25 & 26, 2015 at Doha Qatar
Participated Training of National Trainers on ICCE Universal Treatment Curriculum Conducted by International Center for certification and Education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE) curriculum 1-8, Colombo and Maldives-2014
ParticipatedRegional Workshop on Collection and Analysis of Data on Drug Use at Pakistan 2013
Participated Precursor Control Programme for Law Enforcement Officers in Asia- Bangkok 2012
Participated in Regional Training Programme on Drug Law Enforcement 24-26 November 2008, Chennai, India
Study tour to Tihar Jail Premises (India) to study on Drug Demand Reduction programme, 1- 6th September 2002.
Participated in "The 13th Study Program for Overseas Experts on Drug Abuse and Narcotic Control" in Japan Conducted by Japan International Corporation Welfare Services, June23-17th July 1998
.Participated in International Participatory Rural Appraisal Training Program (PRA) conducted by MYRADA Institute, Bangalore, India, November 1992.
International Project Handling Experience
Co-ordinator of the Awareness programme on Pharmaceutical Abuse for Law Enforcement Officers and Drugs & Chemical Importers of NDDCB/UNODC project XSA/ J81 (2016), Co-ordinator Intervention Programme for Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Slave Island- Project No. SESRL 1206186 (WHO)-2013/2014/2015, Co-ordinator of the Training of Trainers (TOT) programme on Drug Law Enforcement for the Law Enforcement Officers of NDDCB/UNODC project XSA/ J81 (2008/2009), Co-ordinator of the Awareness programme on Pharmaceutical Abuse for the Law Enforcement Officers and Drugs & Chemical Importers of NDDCB/UNODC project XSA/ J81 (2009), Co-ordinator of the National Symposium on Drug Abuse-Related Studies. (2005-2006), Co- ordinator of the Prisoner Diversion Programme of NDDCB/UNDP Project. (2002-2004), 1st International Symposium on Drug-Related Studies on the 1st and 2nd of December 2022 at the Water’s Edge, Colombo. The Colombo Plan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded, 5 Days Capacity Building Programme on SPSS & GIS funded by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Some of the NDDCB Research /Publication
Handbook of drug abuse information (Annual Publication-English, (1994 - 2021). (27 publications)
Study on Psychosocial characteristics of Drug use in Youth and Adolescents (2022)
Survey on Trends of Methamphetamine in Sri Lanka (2022)
University Survey Report (2022)
Study on the use of tobacco-related products and related trends (2022)
Some of the Research paper presentations at National and International Research Symposiums
Trend, Patterns and Estimation of Injecting Drug Users in Sri Lanka -A paper presented for International Conference on Humanities and social sciences at Ruhunu University -2017, Presented an abstract on “Current trend and patterns of opium use in post-colonial Sri Lanka” at the National Symposium on historical studies organized by the University of Rajarata, Presented an abstract on “Nature and current trends of Drug users profile of Sri Lanka” at the International research conference on social sciences 2018 at the University of Peradeniya, Presented an abstract on “Injecting drug use, unsafe practices and health risk” at the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies 2018, organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayawardanapura.
Engagement in some prevention and treatment activities during the service period:
Conduct Lectures in TOT programmes on drug abuse research issues, prevention, and research methodology for NDDCB Staff, Law enforcement officers and other government officers 1999 – up- to-date, Visiting Lecturer on Research Methods – Diploma in Drug Abuse Management Studies (DDAMS), Institute of Human Resource Advancement (Institute of Workers Education) at Colombo University from May 1995 up-to-date, Lecture certificate Course on Drug Counselling conducted by NDDCB from 2012 March to date, Conduct Lectures in TOT programmes on Drug Law Enforcement for Drug Law Enforcement officers of UNODC Project 2010-2011, Co-coordinator of Prisoner Diversion Scheme from 2000 to 2004 March (UNDCP/WHO project)
Researcher/Project Assistant
Centre for Women's Research (CENWOR) No.225, Kirula Road,
Colombo 5.
December 1990 - December 1992
Conducted gender studies on women, gender sensitisation workshops and village based action programmes and wrote reports on the above. Functioned as a Facilitator/ Project Assistant on a
Netherlands Gender Development Project for two years. During this period facilitated in Palagama, Madiwela and Remunagoda in Colombo district to totally develop the villages by giving them skilled training in crafts, Leadership, health and sanitation etc. I handled the project administration, including all correspondence and project funds of the Women in Development Project.
Field Supervisor
Survey Research Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Marketing & Social Research Consultants, BMICH. September 1989 - September 1990
I have done field work in most parts of the Island. I lead a team of five fields Investigators to various urban and rural locations in the Island. I have done marketing surveys on consumer goods such as soap, powder, perfumes, milk powder etc. Social surveys on poverty health mel-nutrition etc. Conducted group discussion with clients.