Preliminary findings of a national survey on methamphetamine use have found that there are some 50,000 users of the drug in the country, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Shakya Nanayakkara said.

"However, our samples and findings from teachers we are engaging with, we have found that 'ice' or methamphetamine use in schools isn't as prevalent as feared," Nanayakkara said.

"Towards the end of the year 2022, there was a comparative increase in persons admitted to our rehabilitation centres," he said.