553,000 addicted to drugs: Justice Minister

 By Lahiru Pothmulla   

Justice Minister Ali Sabry said 553, 000 people were addicted to drugs.   

Speaking at a function held at Viyangalla in Kalutara on Tuesday, Minister Sabry assured that measures would be taken to eradicate the drug menace from the country.   
“In order to ensure the security of everyone, we will unearth all the roots of the drug scourge. If a special unit is needed for this, we will create one as well,” he said.   
He said the large number of people who are addicted to drug was a grave situation and only a strong leader like President Gotabaya Rajapaksa can eradicate the drug menace in the country.   

Minister Sabry further said that there were 6,600 court cases related to drugs in 2015 when the Rajapaksa Government was elected out of office and the number has increased to 8,000 in 2016.  “I had discussions with the Government Analyst’s Department recently about this.

• In order to ensure the security of everyone, we will unearth all the roots of the drug scourge