The Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme - DAP

The final day of the Regional Forensic Capacity Building for Synthetic Drug Detection and Analysis training program was held on 18 July 2025. The morning session initiated with Dr. Barry K. Logan from the Centre for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), USA providing a comprehensive recap of the training, addressing any remaining questions, and offering updates on database developments.

Later that afternoon, the official closing ceremony was held, attended by key figures including Commander (Retired) K.K.S. Kothalawala, Director General of the National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB) – Sri Lanka, Ms. Marcy Brown, South Asia Regional Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics (INL), Ms. Oranooch Sungkhawanna, Director of the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (DAP), and representatives from CFSRE, Waters Corporation, and the participants.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of Certificates of Completion, marking the official end of the training program and celebrating the achievement of all involved.

Read More : https://colombo-plan.org/training-on-regional-forensic-capacity-building-for-synthetic-drug-detection/

On July 17, 2025, during Day 08 of the Regional Forensic Capacity Building for Synthetic Drug Detection and Analysis training program, Dr. Barry K. Logan from the Centre for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), USA, provided a comprehensive recap of the training progress over the past two weeks. He highlighted the valuable practical sessions that had been conducted and offered specific guidance for the upcoming stages of the program.

One of the key points Dr. Logan addressed was the proper handling and reuse of capillaries, emphasizing the importance of not overloading the capillary when setting the RADIAN system. The CFSRE and Waters teams also reassured participants by responding to several concerns raised regarding the capillaries and their usage.

In support of the labs, the CFSRE provided each participating country lab with a package containing approximately 200 capillaries to aid in the continuation of practical experiments.

Dr. Logan also provided important updates on the ongoing improvements to the database, encouraging participants to share their LiveID files with the CFSRE team. This would allow the team to review their data and, where necessary, add certified reference materials (CRM) to the system. The discussion then shifted to critical aspects of data management, including the processes of data transmission, downloading, and analysis within LiveID, the functionality for running reports to facilitate comprehensive data review.

Following the informative discussions, the participants proceeded with hands-on practical sessions, further familiarizing themselves with the RADIAN equipment and refining their technical skills.

Read More : https://colombo-plan.org/training-on-regional-forensic-capacity-building-for-synthetic-drug-detection/

On 15 July 2025, the official handover of the RADIAN ASAP equipment from the U.S. Government to National Narcotics Lab (NNL) of the National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB) was held marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s efforts against synthetic drug trafficking. The ceremony was attended by key figures, including Sri Lanka's Hon. Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, Ms. Jayne Howell, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Colombo, and the Colombo Plan Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes.

Dr. Indika Wanninayake, Chairman of the NDDCB, welcomed everyone, emphasizing its importance of the equipment and the regional training. H.E. Dr. Reyes emphasized the significance of the RADIAN ASAP equipment, noting the U.S. role as the current council president of the Colombo Plan. Ms. Howell described the equipment as a cutting-edge, life-saving tool for Sri Lanka, while Hon. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala also stressed the need for advanced detection technology. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In the afternoon, the participants resumed their lab sessions, engaging in hands-on training with the LiveID software and RADIAN ASAP equipment.

Read More : https://colombo-plan.org/training-on-regional-forensic-capacity-building-for-synthetic-drug-detection/