The Hon. Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Thank you very much for granting me this opportunity, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 Today we are discussing two Amendments: to the Judicature Act and to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. These introduce new laws necessary for interdictions related to narcotics—production and distribution—both in Sri Lanka’s maritime zones and on the high seas.

¶ 03 Hon. Presiding Member, as a country moving towards a long-term, sustainable solution to the drug menace with “the whole country together,” I believe it is important to study the global history of drugs—the history of addiction. In truth, drugs and addiction go back more than 5,000 years. In Mesopotamian civilization and in South America, opium and coca leaves were used as medicines for long periods. But it was in the 20th century that drug networks expanded as businesses. Even before the 20th century, during 1839 and 1860, Britain created a warlike situation in China through opium exports—the Opium Wars. A previous Member spoke about the creation of drug networks like the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent. I just heard Opposition Members say they expect this to be completely eradicated by 2027. This is a complex issue. Why do we call it complex?

¶ 04 We are now implementing a programme on drug eradication. The State is intervening to a great extent and allocating significant resources. We must understand the extent of our intervention relative to the funds we spend to eradicate drugs or free people from addiction. For example, Pablo Escobar created the Medellín Cartel in Colombia—how did he sustain it? Similarly, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, “El Chapo,” now imprisoned in the United States, led Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel—how did he run it? We must understand how their narcotics economies and embedded criminal cultures influenced politics; how drug money was invested in politics; how they interfered with investigative bodies and even courts—if we are to find a lasting solution. We know that Pablo Escobar once assassinated the country’s Justice Minister and also the presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento. In such a context, considering our country’s geography—the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, the Palk Strait, and the Gulf of Mannar—Sri Lanka is situated in a very important, central location. Near our maritime zone, daily, around 200–300 large vessels, 30–60 commercial and fishing craft, about 60 percent of the world’s cargo ships, and about 40 percent of the tankers transporting oil pass by. Given our linkage to global trade routes, Sri Lanka is not in a position to solve this problem in isolation, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 05 Through these Amendments, we are re-establishing control by conferring judicial power to enforce our law within the maritime zones, even though we have long obtained independence. Until now, in our maritime zones and adjacent high seas, we did not have the legal ability to interdict narcotics-related activities, including production. Therefore, this Amendment is very important.

¶ 06 Hon. Presiding Member, eliminating drugs requires various measures. One measure is, in particular, rehabilitation—moving towards a more scientific rehabilitation process using psychological counselling. The National People’s Power Government is taking necessary steps in this regard. Also, how do we create public awareness? The entire population must be made aware of the impact of drugs. There is a need for such awareness programmes. Stricter laws are also necessary.

¶ 07 We have adequate laws relating to narcotics. But how independent were our investigative bodies in the past when it came to enforcing these laws? We constantly hear how drug traffickers were protected. That shows how drug money influenced politics and investigative agencies. The people gave us a mandate to end that.

¶ 08 We must also consider how decriminalization is being examined globally in drug policy. Some countries have introduced the concept of decriminalization for certain narcotics to reduce use—particularly Portugal, Switzerland, and the United States. The National People’s Power Government will take all scientific and legal measures to resolve this complex global drug problem.

¶ 09 Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.