Political Power Behind Drug Trade 'Broken' Says President

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has revealed staggering figures from Sri Lanka’s ongoing anti-drug operations, declaring a decisive crackdown on narcotics networks while asserting that political protection for drug-related crimes has, for the first time, been dismantled.

Addressing the scale of the operations, the President disclosed that authorities have seized massive quantities of illegal drugs in recent months, underscoring both the success of enforcement efforts and the alarming extent of the narcotics trade within the country.

"From October 30 last year to today, we have seized 1,947 kilograms of heroin. That is equivalent to about 39 fertilizer bags filled with heroin. We have also seized 2,062 kilograms of ‘ice’ (crystal meth), which is nearly the volume of 41 fertilizer bags. In addition, 289 kilograms of cocaine have been seized, close to six fertilizer bags worth," he said.

Despite these large-scale seizures, the President stressed that authorities believe this represents only a fraction of the drugs circulating within Sri Lanka, warning of the deep-rooted nature of the problem.

"Even now, we do not believe that this is all. This is only what we have been able to seize. From that, we can understand the scale of drugs circulating within the country. We can clearly see how much of our younger generation has fallen victim to this menace," he stated.

President Dissanayake revealed that law enforcement agencies have arrested 186,000 individuals within just four months, a figure that includes a significant number of young people.

"Within just four months, we have arrested 186,000 individuals. Among them are 6,064 boys under the age of 21 and 138 girls. This clearly shows the extent to which the youth have been affected," he said.

He further noted that the crackdown has also targeted illegal weapons linked to criminal networks, with authorities seizing 83 automatic firearms during the same period.

"We have also seized 83 automatic firearms. Illegal weapons, drugs, and drug addiction together have created two doors in front of our young people, a destructive doorway and another that secures their future," he said, framing the issue as a critical turning point for the country’s youth.

The President acknowledged the powerful forces historically behind the drug trade, including political, state, and financial backing, describing the narcotics network as a system sustained by significant influence.

"I know that powerful forces stand behind the destructive doorway. There was a time when political power stood behind it. There was a time when state power supported it. There is still financial power backing it. This is a doorway opened with the support of immense power," he said.

However, he emphasized that the current administration is committed to dismantling these structures and closing what he described as the “destructive doorway” threatening the nation’s future.

"Therefore, we must close it. To close it, we must exercise equal or greater power. I want to say clearly, for the first time in Sri Lanka, we have broken the political power that existed behind drug-related crimes. No one involved will receive political patronage or protection," President Dissanayake declared.