GURU SHIKSHA 18-20 SEPTEMBER 2025 @ WAKWELLA TRAINING CENTER - GALLE
The Preventive Education and Training Division of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), Sri Lanka, successfully conducted the Guru Shiksha Teachers Training Programme from 18th to 20th September 2025 at the Wakwella Training Center, Galle. This transformative initiative brought together 50 School Counsellor Teachers representing the Galle Educational Zone of the Galle District, with the aim of strengthening schoolbased substance abuse prevention through creative pedagogy, psychological awareness, and emotional literacy. The programme was funded by the Mental Health Division of the Ministry of Health and fully supported by the Ministry of Education, which facilitated the participation of dedicated Counsellor Teachers.
Originally designed in 2019, Guru Shiksha is rooted in the Universal Prevention Curriculum(UPC) series, with special guidance drawn from the School-Based Prevention Curriculum. The programme is grounded in scientific and evidence-based interventions, tailored to theSri Lankan educational context through bilingual delivery and culturally resonant methods.
It was monitored by Dr. Indika Wanninayake, Chairman of NDDCB, along with the Director General of NDDCB, ensuring strategic oversight and institutional alignment. The Preventive Education and Training Division carried full operational responsibility for planning, facilitation, and implementation. The programme was funded by the Mental Health Division of the Ministry of Health, which provided comprehensive financial support, including participant logistics, training materials, and all associated costs.
This training programme adopts a structured evaluation framework to enhance teacher engagement and learning outcomes. Participants undergo both pre-test and posttest assessments, enabling facilitators to measure immediate cognitive gains and shifts in understanding. A multiple-choice questionnaire serves as the primary tool for evaluating participants’ initial and final outputs.
Sustainability and School-Based Leadership To ensure the long-term impact of this training programme, participants are encouraged to establish School Prevention Leadership Action Teams (SPLATs) within their respective schools. These teams serve as catalysts for ongoing dialogue, peer collaboration, and proactive engagement in substance abuse prevention. Special emphasis is placed on strengthening classroom management practices and reinforcing school-level drug policies, creating emotionally safe, well-regulated learning environments. Through SPLATs, trained educators become change agents—embedding prevention principles into daily routines, school culture, and policy frameworks.
Training Team Introduction This transformative training programme is conducted under the leadership of Mr. Pradeep Kumara Koholanegedara, Deputy Director of the Preventive Education and Training Division, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Sri Lanka. Mr. Koholanegedara brings a wealth of expertise as a credentialed professional in ICAP UTC, URC, and UPC, with a distinguished record in designing bilingual, emotionally intelligent education for youth and educators.
He is joined by a dynamic team of certified facilitators: Mr. Supun Udana Wewalagedara – ICAP UPC and URC credential holder Ms. Isuri Rathnayake – ICAP UPC and URC credential holder Ms. Sahange Alwis – ICAP UPC credential holder Together, this team blends international standards with local cultural insight, guiding participants through evidence-based methodologies, creative pedagogy, and sustainable school-based prevention strategies.
