President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to swiftly bring forward all legal reforms, including amendments to existing laws, needed to eradicate the drug menace, and to expedite the destruction of seized narcotics and the prosecution of offenders.
The directives were issued at a meeting of the “Ratama Ekata” National Steering Council at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday morning (7), the President’s Media Division said. The Council reviewed the progress of anti-narcotics operations and the legislative amendments under preparation.
Officials told the President that since the operation’s launch on October 30, 2025, raids had risen by 80%. Cumulative seizures now stand at 5,437.457 kg of cannabis, 1,936.325 kg of heroin, 1,991.414 kg of crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”), 271.724 kg of cocaine, 1,574,895 narcotic pills and 629,988 illicit cigarettes. A total of 168,460 suspects have been arrested — an increase of about 12,000 from the figures reported on April 25.
The President directed authorities to expedite the destruction of seized stocks under proper legal procedures to prevent them from re-entering circulation, and to accelerate the punishment of offenders to build public confidence in the operation. The Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill No. 54 of 2007 will be submitted to Cabinet shortly.
He also inquired into the establishment of a separate court for narcotics cases, faster receipt of Government Analyst reports, and quicker filing of charges. He said legal proceedings and rehabilitation processes for inmates already imprisoned on narcotics offences should be expedited to ease prison overcrowding.
At Divisional Secretariat level, 25 of the families most severely affected by drug abuse in each division have been selected for “attitude development” programmes to be run through local religious centres. The President said anti-drug awareness work should not be limited to one-off campaigns and called for sustained follow-up with the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders.
The Inspector General of Police briefed the meeting on investigations into Buddhist monks recently arrested in connection with narcotics offences. Joint Education Ministry and Women and Children’s Bureau programmes targeting school recruitment, and community programmes around the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, were also discussed.
