Srilanka, Aug. 28 -- Drug and alcohol use is contributing to the deaths of between 80 and 100 people in Sri Lanka every day, according to Dr. Manoj Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Rajarata University.

He made the remarks at a media briefing held today (28) on drug prevention and awareness programmes conducted under the "Rata Ma Ekata" (The Country United) national operation.

Dr. Fernando said there was no other single individual factor in Sri Lanka that resulted in such a high number of deaths each day.

He identified smoking as the leading cause of deaths among substance-related causes in the country, while noting that alcohol consumption alone was responsible for an estimated 10 to 15 deaths daily.

He also warne...