Sri Lanka’s narcotic prevention activities are to be reinvigorated by using fully modernised methods and sophisticated equipment with Japanese government assistance, Prime Minister’s office announced.
Sri Lanka is not a producer or manufacturer of illicit drugs, with the exception of cannabis. But it has become country with growing number of drug users and an important hub for international drug trafficking, including opium and heroin.
This is mainly a result of the country’s strategic location, especially on important maritime and aviation shipping routes, for drugs originating mainly in India and Pakistan.
Domestically, the government needs to allocate more money to the rehabilitation of drug users numbering 5.9 million and reintegration programs for the victims of drugs.
It is also a widely known that large-scale drug dealers evade the law with the support of politicians and others with influence.
Fighting against illicit drug trafficking is a challenge for Sri Lanka because of its lack of resources, both financial and human.
More needs to be done in terms of capacity-building and training officers to counter the drug trade
Modern sophisticated equipment is essential for identifying the traffickers and users in order to control the present dangerous situation, official sources said.
Accordingly, the government of Japan has given their consent for a grant of Yen 200 million (approximately Rupees 320 million) for supplying necessary equipment for investigation and revelation of narcotic related activities for Sri Lanka Police.
The proposal submitted by the Prime Minister t was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers for signing the exchange papers applicable towards this end.
The new Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratna has instructed the Police to take tough measures to combat the drug menace in the country.
A newly formed special task force will coordinate collective efforts of respective stakeholders such as Security Forces, Police, Special Task Force (STF) and Health Ministry along with other responsible government institutions in combating drug menace.
Further Sri Lanka government is going to deploy a police officer for each school in the guise of a drug prevention program.
This program will be launched to eradicate the drug menace from school children, stated the Ministry of Education,
(LI)