Tri-forces on alert over proliferation of drugs

The tri-forces are working in different capacities on the eradication of drugs from the country, Commanders of the tri-forces emphasized yesterday.

Addressing a media briefing, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne said they were giving their fullest support for the endeavor undertaken by President Maithripala Sirisena to create a country free of drugs.

Explaining the task of the Sri Lanka Army, Army Commander Lt Gen. Mahesh Senanayake said the army troops were engaged in awareness programmes on the eradication of drugs and measures needed to be taken against the proliferation of drugs.

“We are working hand in hand with the Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention. We have also deployed our intelligence officers in places where drugs are smuggled in,” Lt. Gen. Senanayake said.

Meanwhile, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva said the Navy had seized 2113 kgs of Kerala ganja on 41 occasions in 2018 and in 2019, 680 kgs of Kerala ganja on 21 occasions.

“We have also apprehended 168, 88 and 27 individuals in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. The majority of them were fishermen,” Vice Admiral De Silva said.

“Here, I should mention the support rendered by the Joint Maritime Operations Coordination Centre which comprises of 33 countries. The personnel of this centre are working on raiding drug trafficking around the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea,” Vice Admiral De Silva added.

Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathy said the air force personnel were basically engaged in inspection in the air and on the ground as well.

“The Air Force has deployed its special team to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to inspect and assist in checking the passengers,” Air Vice Marshal Jayampathy said. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Video by Susantha

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana