The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in this House, Parliamentary privilege is being stretched beyond purpose. The Opposition often avoids people’s issues and engages in personal attacks, trying to cripple the Government. As the National People’s Power Government progresses, the Opposition, perhaps not grasping the reality, engages in distractions. Meanwhile, many pressing public issues demand attention.

¶ 02 I am pleased to speak at the Second Reading of the Judicature (Amendment) Bill and the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill. Updating the justice system to current needs is normal in a developing democracy. Existing laws are inadequate to eradicate drug use and trafficking; hence, these amendments are before us.

¶ 03 Justice delayed is justice denied. The Bill provides to increase the number of higher courts and appoint more judges to expedite cases. Speeding up civil litigation will also create a secure environment for investors. Revising court jurisdictions will reduce the burden on those in remote areas who must travel long distances to access justice.

¶ 04 Regarding narcotics, new varieties and methods of trade and use are spreading rapidly, often evading detection. This threatens our future generations, especially students in schools and higher education. Drug trafficking has reached a very bad state in Sri Lanka. Increasing penalties against traffickers through this Bill will help curb the trade. Users should be identified, rehabilitated, and reintegrated to contribute to national development.

¶ 05 Drugs now reach every corner, even into the deep sea. Mother ships anchor beyond our maritime boundary and coordinate trafficking; Sri Lanka is ensnared from the seaward side. Drugs primarily come in by sea. This Bill will be useful to act against those on ships anchoring at the high seas or at the boundary, allowing arrests and prosecution—previously difficult.

¶ 06 After the end of the war in 2009, drug trade and use in the Northern Province have increased. Since 2023, drug-related arrests in the North have risen by about 25 percent annually. Families of users suffer social and economic collapse; cultural values erode. Crime linked to users has increased; nearly 65 percent of thefts are committed by drug users. Hospital data—particularly in Vavuniya and Jaffna—show sudden cardiac events among men under 30 have risen by 35 percent, largely due to “ice.” This is not only a Northern problem; across Sri Lanka youth morbidity and mortality from drugs have grown.

¶ 07 In the North, recognized rehab facilities have only about 15 beds per 1,000 patients in need. Capacity must be increased. At the Jaffna Teaching Hospital’s psychiatry unit, one in four new admissions is drug dependent. The President’s “The Whole Nation Together” program seeks to eliminate drugs from the village level upward. I urge all to join this effort. Thank you for the opportunity.