Sept 10, Colombo: An average of 12 persons commits suicide everyday in Sri Lanka according to police reports, Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, a counseling service, said today, on the International Day of Prevention of Suicide.

Around ten times of that number attempt to commit suicide everyday. The majority of the persons that commit suicide are males, says the organization.

Although the suicide rate is declining in Sri Lanka after having one of the highest suicide rates in the world, 4,120 persons committed suicide in 2008 alone and 3,260 of them were males.

Drugs, mental diseases, and personality disorders are identified as major causes for suicide and agricultural pesticide poisoning was the major means for committing suicide.

Sumithrayo Colombo center director Nalini Ellawala blames media for highlighting suicide incidents and says it promotes suicide.