Posted by ONLANKA Newsroom on Might 20, 2026 – 8:39 pm
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the political safety beforehand loved by drug traffickers has now been fully eliminated and that no official faces interference when finishing up narcotics-related investigations.
Talking on the “A Nation United” Batticaloa District Programme held at this time (Might 20) on the Batticaloa Weber Stadium, the President stated all establishments concerned in anti-drug operations can be allowed to perform inside their authorized powers and fulfil their duties correctly.
He additionally stated the Authorities is ready to introduce new legal guidelines if the present authorized framework shouldn’t be ample to fight organised crime and narcotics trafficking.
President Dissanayake said that main progress had been made through the six months because the launch of the nationwide anti-drug operation on October 30 final yr.
In accordance with the President, authorities seized 1,943 kilograms of heroin, 2,008 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) and 40,755 kilograms of hashish through the previous six months.
He stated 83 T-56 firearms, 118 pistols, 75 revolvers and a number of other hand grenades had additionally been seized throughout operations focusing on underworld gangs linked to the drug commerce.
The President additional stated 28 underworld members working abroad had been arrested and introduced again to Sri Lanka, whereas some felony teams working from prisons had been transferred to particular detention camps.
He said that political patronage had been one of many important causes the narcotics commerce expanded within the nation, however burdened that such safety not exists.
“No official is now subjected to stress,” the President stated, including that Police, Tri-Forces, Customs, Immigration and different establishments had now been introduced underneath a unified operation towards narcotics and organised crime.
The President additionally stated the Authorities plans to introduce laws to make sure narcotics seized by authorities are destroyed inside a brief time period.
He known as on the general public to assist the anti-drug marketing campaign by offering details about drug trafficking and narcotics-related actions of their communities.
Throughout his speech, President Dissanayake additionally spoke in regards to the nation’s financial state of affairs, stating that the Authorities had maintained a powerful Treasury place regardless of world financial pressures, together with rising gas import prices and the strengthening of the US greenback.
He stated the Authorities had allotted billions of rupees for gas and electrical energy subsidies to cut back the burden on the general public and warranted that the nation wouldn’t be allowed to return to previous financial crises.
Minister of Public Safety and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Growth Sunil Handunnetti, Japanese Province Governor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, senior safety officers and a number of other public representatives have been additionally current on the occasion.
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