In this FORUT Civil Society Impact Series Report, Forum for Rural Income and Environmental Development Services (FRIENDS) documents the implementation of a community-based alcohol and drug prevention campaign across nine locations in Sri Lanka during the 2026 Sinhala and Tamil New Year period. The initiative mobilized 48 women’s groups and 47 child clubs, engaging 526 children and 484 women to design and display 190 community banners promoting alcohol-free families and safer communities. The campaign increased public discussion about alcohol-related harms, including poverty, domestic violence, child protection, and family well-being. Despite some resistance, community groups demonstrated strong ownership and commitment, reinforcing the value of sustained, locally driven prevention efforts.
What it means for FORUT partners working with communities
This highlights several lessons highly relevant for FORUT partners.
First, community mobilization can complement policy advocacy by generating grassroots support for alcohol control measures and shifting social norms around drinking.
Second, women and children are effective advocates whose voices can strengthen public narratives on alcohol’s impact on families, gender equality, and child rights.
Third, resistance from illegal alcohol retailers demonstrates the need for risk mitigation, alliance-building with local authorities, and protection of community advocates.
Finally, the findings reinforce FORUT’s Alcohol and Development Framework: sustainable change requires combining community action with policy advocacy, prevention programmes, and cross-sector collaboration.
Recommended citation:
Wijesinghe, B., Madubashani, M., Nithyanandan, M., et al. (2026). Preventing Alcohol and
Drug Use in Communities in Sri Lanka. Gjøvik, Norway: FORUT & Forum for Rural Income
and Environmental Development Services (FRIENDS)