One in every 50 individuals addicted to drugs in Sri Lanka: Minister

Colombo, June 27 (Daily Mirror): Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj said yesterday that one out of every 50 people in Sri Lanka has fallen victim to drug addiction.

The grim statistic was revealed during the National Anti-drug March held last morning, which was organised to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Organised under the “Ratama Ekata” national campaign by the Bureau of Rehabilitation, the event brought together members of the security forces and representatives of government institutions to promote a drug-free society.

“We know that from young children to the elderly, when people fall victim to drug abuse, mothers and women in every single family in Sri Lanka suffer. We have seen how children’s lives are darkened and how they drop out of their education. Because of this, particularly in Sri Lanka, one in every fifty individuals has become addicted to drug use. A massive, monumental effort is required to rescue them from this addiction,” Minister Paulraj said.

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that links between political networks and drug-related criminal activities are being exposed following recent arrests connected to narcotics and underworld operations.

Addressing the issue, the Minister claimed that attempts had been made to offer bribes amounting to millions of rupees to secure the release of individuals arrested over alleged drug trafficking and organised crime activities.

He alleged that state mechanisms had previously been used to create situations where suspects were taken to identify weapons for extended periods, allowing them to later secure release.

“This was the political culture that existed,” Wijepala said, claiming that efforts to establish a criminal state were now being revealed.

The Minister added that such incidents would not be allowed to be forgotten and said the government would ensure that those involved face accountability.