The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 In roughly the past ten and a half months: 1,481.40 kg of heroin seized with 58,130 cases; 32.6 kg of cocaine with 91 cases; 2,539.5 kg of ice (methamphetamine) with 66,593 cases; 14,419.4 kg of cannabis and Kerala ganja with 58,724 cases; about three million illicit tablets and six million illicit capsules with 2,808 cases; and 575 kg of other drugs with 1,474 case filings—totaling 187,872 case filings. This shows how deeply drug trafficking has spread in our country.

¶ 02 Drug trafficking does not occur in isolation: it is tied to the underworld, black politics and black money—four inseparable strands over decades—threatening citizens’ lives. The Government is acting to curb the underworld and drug trafficking so that anyone—regardless of political side, business or profession—can live freely and peacefully. That is why, with support from international police—Indonesian, Nepalese, Indian, Thai, among others—we are pursuing and bringing back top-ranking underworld leaders. We have the will to crush the underworld, and it is a national necessity.

¶ 03 I wish to address the SJB led by Hon. Sajith Premadasa. You can have many criticisms about how we manage the economy and reforms. That is acceptable. But on this issue there are no two sides. To subdue drugs, the underworld, black politics and black money—this black nexus—the entire House of 225 must stand together. Some may hesitate because, in the past, they have been connected to the underworld, drug trafficking or black politics. Some may fear what investigators will unearth. If we set such people aside, I believe the SJB can join this effort. We are not accusing SJB MPs of being linked to drugs or the underworld. But you should set a good example by saying “Yes, let’s unite to suppress drug trafficking and the underworld.” Instead, from morning, many of you have tried to undermine a moment when the nation must line up together.