Defence Secretary assured to eradicate drug menace in Sri Lanka

Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne reiterated that punitive actions would be initiated without delay against prison, law enforcement and other officials, who found abusing official powers vested through corrupt practices, abetting and collaborating with underworld criminals and drug traffickers.

He said the law enforcement authorities had already taken all measures to identifying those uniformed men who were abusing power vested with them to get involve in corrupt practices.

“When we were in the military academy, we were taught that the most dangerous enemy is the enemy within. We now need to identify and confirm the enemy within us to eradicate drug menace. Otherwise it will be a futile effort”, the Defence Secretary was quoted as saying according to Defense Ministry.

Addressing a gathering at the foundation laying ceremony held to build a new rehabilitation centre at the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), at Nittambuwa, this morning (June 26), he assured to take all necessary measures to eradicate drug menace in Sri Lanka, soon.

Maj.Gen. Gunaratne said those who addicted to drugs needed sympathy, support and assistance to get rehabilitated to reintegrate into the society to lead productive lives.

The fully-fledged rehabilitation centre, which is targeted to rehabilitate nearly 1,000 drug addicts will be constructed with the assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Chairman NDDCB Dr. Laknath Welagedara said the NDDCB, which had been in operation for 36-years since 1984, was expanding treatments and rehabilitation facilities in order to ‘build a drug free, healthy and secured nation’, first responsive onto the nation’s policy of prosperous country following the vision of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  

He said the new building, ‘Nawa Diganthaya’ for treatment and rehabilitation centre, would be built in partnership with the Government of Germany and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) while the construction being undertaken by the Sri Lanka Navy.  

Deputy Ambassador of Germany Andreas Berg said Germany was supporting the initiative as a part of a much larger project strengthening the capacity of Sri Lanka to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism through effective criminal justice responses.

“The expansion of this rehabilitation centre reflects the fourth pillar of the larger project and this is to strengthening capability and capacity in the prison sector”, he said.