The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Adjournment Motion. An Hon. Member said such a Motion should come from the Opposition; some compared it to an elephant throwing sand on its own head. However, we brought this Motion from the Government benches precisely because of our sincere intention to act.

¶ 02 Recently, His Excellency the President, in this Chamber, stated that the People have given a mandate, including a specific mandate to act against illicit drugs. Previously, drug trafficking was intertwined with politics—maintained through links between traffickers and politicians. For the first time in history, the political leadership connected to the drug trade has been removed. If the traffickers now attempt to overrun society, we, as the NPP, are ready to confront them.

¶ 03 As the Mover noted, we have already taken significant measures. Just yesterday, through a joint Navy–Police operation in Jaffna, 174 kg of Kerala cannabis were seized. Under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, we have undertaken interventions in Jaffna and the Eastern areas. Except in Delft, we have trained 14 Development Officers to work on prevention. We conduct therapeutic interventions and community and hospital‑based clinics, with awareness materials prepared in Tamil. Along with our law‑enforcement institutions, we also involve NGOs and civil organizations in awareness work. Psychiatry clinics linked to Jaffna District Hospital and Chavakachcheri Hospital are treating persons with drug dependence.

¶ 04 On treatment and rehabilitation centres, attention has been given by the Coordinating Committee and by Parliament to establish a dedicated rehabilitation centre in Jaffna. Under the National Authority on Dangerous Drugs, we intend to recruit advisory officers and other staff for several provinces and establish a new Northern office.

¶ 05 From 01.01.2025 to 01.03.2025 alone, nationwide there were 168 heroin detections; 279 grams of heroin seized. In Kilinochchi, 790 cannabis detections; 2,140 kg seized. “Ice” detections numbered 105; 423 grams seized—from Kilinochchi alone. There were 58 detections related to tablets; 41,839 tablets seized from Kilinochchi alone. In Jaffna, there were 83 heroin detections (104 grams seized), 131 cannabis detections (650 kg seized), 23 “Ice” detections (44 kg seized) and 377 tablet detections (26,915 tablets seized).

¶ 06 There is a notable trend of increased seizures by the security services. Observation indicates heroin use in the North is decreasing, though use of other substances shows an upward trend—heroin use down partly due to higher prices.

¶ 07 We will continue working with all security agencies to implement Clean Sri Lanka in the North. We understand the mandate of the people of the North and East includes this issue. We assure the people that we are a movement that does what we say. That is why a Motion the Opposition might bring was brought by us—because of our genuine intent. Finally, we pledge to this House to carry out substantial tasks to curb this drug menace and to bring it to an end. Thank you.