The newspaper quoted the survey as saying that Sri Lankan drug users spend a
staggering 8.3 billion rupees ($143 million) each year to keep themselves
``high.''

It said the Police Narcotics Bureau seized 27 kg of heroin and 51,538 kg of
cannabis in 1994. In 1996 the seizures rose to 40 kg of heroin and 85,342 kg
of cannabis.

But 1997 was likely to be record year as police had already confiscated 46 kg
of heroin and 62,338 kg of cannabis in the first few months, the newspaper
said.

It said drugrelated arrests increased to 14,800 last year from 12,352 in
1994. Over 60 percent of those arrested are under 30 years of age, the
newspaper said quoting police statistics.

The Prisons Department records show that 35 percent of all prisoners in Sri
Lankan jails have been convicted of drugs related offences, the newspaper
said.

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