Measures underway to import special equipment to detect narcotics : President

In a bid to further strengthen the fight against narcotics, the President said that the government is taking measures to import special equipment in order to detect narcotics in a way which is similar to countries overseas.

The President made these remarks during the Committee Stage debate in Parliament this evening. 

“The first narcotic seizure was recorded in 1983. If the governments which came after that had taken measures to import such equipment, the spread of narcotics could have been prevented easily,” President Sirisena said.

He also pointed out that the recent raids and seizures are being carried out based on the pure skills of the police officers who are attached  to the STF, and the Police Naroctics Bureau.

“There were 30 police stations without a single jeep when I brought the Police Department under my purview,” he claimed while adding that he had taken immediate measures to address this issue.

On the same lines, he said that the previous authorities and individuals who were previously in-charge of the Police Department must be held responsible for this state of affairs.

Meanwhile, the President proceeded to appreciate services rendered by the tri-security forces along with the police and the Special Task Force (STF) especially in the recent past.

During his parliamentary address, Mr. Sirisena said that the tri-forces have been assisting greatly in the development of the country.

“The people in the North are extremely friendly with these personnel despite criticism levelled against these forces for political motives,” he observed.

He proceeded to point out that the people in the North who were affected by the recent flooding in Iranamadu had developed a close relationship with these tri-forces personnel.

The Expenditure Heads of the Defence, Mahaweli Development and the Enviornment Ministries which fall under the purview of the President will be taken up for a vote in Parliament today.