Psychiatrists of Sri Lanka reject government's claim that psychiatric drugs caused violence among prisoners

Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists says that the publicity given in the media on the connection between the violent and aggressive behaviour of prisoners and the abuse of the drugs used in psychiatric practice has no rational basis. 

"The drugs used in psychiatric practice in Sri Lanka are also used all over the world and these drugs are brought under the guidance of regulatory authorities. In Sri Lanka, psychiatrists have been using these drugs during the last seven decades with great benefit to patients. These drugs are prescribed based on well-accepted guidelines. Nome of these drugs are responsible for violent or aggressive behaviour and in fact, many of these drugs promote calmness and cause mild drowsiness," the statement further said. 

Sri Lankan Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Kamal Gunarathna were two of the bigwigs who said that the prisoners had been under the influence of psychiatric drugs stolen from a medical store in the prison.