President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed the need for a dual approach in addressing Sri Lanka’s drug crisis, highlighting the importance of both seizing illegal narcotics and rehabilitating those addicted to them.
He made these remarks during the second session of the ‘A Nation United’ National Steering Council, held today at the Presidential Secretariat, according to the President’s Media Division.
The President acknowledged that public opinion on drug rehabilitation is often divided, and called for a comprehensive, inclusive plan that incorporates diverse perspectives. He stressed the need for a scientifically driven, coordinated strategy involving all relevant state and non-state institutions.
The discussion also focused on the need to build a specialized workforce to support rehabilitation efforts.
President Dissanayake instructed the Ministry of Justice to draft new legislation by March 2026 to enable the immediate destruction of seized drugs at the site of confiscation. Under the proposed law, a Magistrate would be required to inspect the seized drugs on-site, after which samples would be collected by a Government Analyst and the remainder destroyed.
To support this process, the President ordered the expedited recruitment of permanent and temporary government analysts to address vacancies in the Government Analyst’s Department.
A nationwide awareness campaign under the ‘Quit – A Nation United’ initiative is scheduled for December 6 and 7 across all District and Divisional Secretariats.
Additionally, the President directed officials to implement administrative measures enabling all government institutions to certify themselves as drug-free.
The session was attended by religious leaders from Hindu, Catholic, Islamic, and Buddhist communities, along with Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, senior ministry secretaries, law enforcement officials, artists, and civil society representatives. (Newswire)