Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued a stern warning, describing the drug menace as “one of the gravest threats to our nation” and pledging a firm commitment to dismantle organized crime linked to narcotics.
Highlighting the scale of the crisis, the President emphasized three key concerns:
- Impact on Youth: He noted that drug abuse devastates the younger generation, drawing many into addiction.
- Rise of Organized Crime: He pointed out that the enormous wealth generated through drug trafficking and fierce competition to control the market have fueled gang violence.
- Corruption of State Machinery: He warned that illicit funds from the drug trade have infiltrated and weakened state institutions, posing a serious threat to governance.
Citing recent inspections at Boossa Prison, the President revealed that dozens of mobile phones were found during every raid, even when checks are conducted twice a month, highlighting the depth of corruption and criminal influence.
He cautioned that the drug trade has fueled theft, violence, family disputes, and community breakdown, destabilizing society on an unprecedented scale. “No matter what plans or development projects we implement, they will fail if we cannot restore stability and integrity,” he said. “We can build skyscrapers and attract investments, but all of it will collapse like a house of cards if we do not defeat this scourge.”
