The Hon. Nishantha Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to join the Second Reading debate on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill and the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill.

¶ 02 We all know drugs enter Sri Lanka either by sea or air. Whatever arguments the Opposition makes, we all accept that the entire society—down to the last streetlight—has been penetrated by toxic drugs. Trafficking has been intertwined with politics; that nexus could not be severed, plunging our society into devastation. The people, therefore, gave the National People’s Power the mandate and governing power to lift the country out of this, and to drive political, economic, and social transformation.

¶ 03 A former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance said upon retirement that the country collapsed with no dollars and no rupees. We assumed that challenge. Economic collapse affects not only people; canals, flora, and fauna too. There was no fertilizer for cinnamon, tea, or paddy. We rescued and changed the economy within about a year and a few months. We also changed the prevailing political culture—state officials were once transferred for not saying “Sir” or “Madam.” We ended that.

¶ 04 The people’s main expectation was to save our motherland from the drug menace. Historically, Sri Lanka was known as Asia’s tea hub. In school we learned of athletes from a land of tea. But those then in power ruined that tea hub—turning it into a “powder hub,” an “ice hub.” Since 1977, a “profit at any cost” culture took root. Who guarded Presidents and princes? Notorious underworld figures and drug dealers. We saw such people even as mayors and local authority chairmen. That is where the country had fallen.

¶ 05 We have launched a massive national operation “Break Free.” We suggested even adding “Immediately Break Free” to underscore urgency. Under the President’s leadership, we have a national plan to eradicate drugs—through law, politics, culture, and the arts—to save our beloved motherland.

¶ 06 The NPP Government will certainly do this. We thank the Minister of Justice for bringing these Amendments. Drugs mostly come by sea; by passing the necessary orders and Acts, our Government will act decisively.

¶ 07 Thank you for the time.