National Drive to Eradicate Drug Menace to Be Strengthened and Expanded
Unite Across the Nation as a Robust Security Barrier to Combat the Drug Menace
Entrust Your Drug-Dependent Child to Rehabilitation We Will Help Restore the Child You Hoped For
Says the President at the ‘Nation United’ Northern Province Programme
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that parents in the Northern Province, who once lived in fear for their children due to the war, are today compelled to live in fear because of the growing drug menace. The President stressed that this toxic threat is spreading indiscriminately affecting every citizen, city and village, rich and poor alike, without distinction of ethnicity or community. President Dissanayake reaffirmed that the national campaign launched to eradicate the drug menace and safeguard the country’s youth will be carried forward with renewed strength and determination and underscored that this is not an initiative that will be reversed under any circumstances.
Calling on the public to fulfil their collective social responsibility, President Dissanayake urged citizens across the country to unite and act together as a strong nationwide protective shield in the fight against drugs.
The President made these remarks while addressing the Northern Province programme of the ‘Nation United’ (Ratama Ekata) National Operation to eliminate the drug menace, held this afternoon (16) at the Jaffna Technical College playground.
During the event, tokens of appreciation were also presented under the patronage of the President to members of the Tri-Forces and the Police in the Northern Province, in recognition of their active contribution to drug-related raids.
Further addressing the gathering, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the ‘Nation United’ National Operation is not merely an initiative to eliminate the drug menace, but a comprehensive national effort aimed at rehabilitating children who have fallen victim to drugs. He noted that the programme focuses on providing proper rehabilitation and vocational training, enabling them to return to their communities as productive and responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to the nation.
The President also observed that, for the first time, a credible and trustworthy government has been established one that is equally accepted by the people of both the North and the South. While highlighting this point, he stated that although extremist groups that have lost political power are attempting to reignite ethnic divisions in isolated areas, the government will not allow any form of racism or communalism to resurface in the country.
In addition, President Dissanayake stated that LKR. 5,000 million was allocated last year for rural road development in the Northern Province and that a substantial allocation has also been made for this year. He called upon the political leadership and public officials to ensure the effective and transparent utilization of these funds, so that the intended development benefits are delivered to the people without delay.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the gathering further, said that…
I have visited the Jaffna District on several occasions and have met with its people. However, today’s visit is unlike any other it is truly a special occasion. Today, we come together with a single purpose: to defeat the menace of illicit drugs that is engulfing our younger generation and undermining the very mechanism of our state.
As a nation, we have great hopes and aspirations. We aim to transform our country into a developed nation, to build a strong economy and to foster harmony, brotherhood and trust among our people. These are essential for creating a prosperous nation and ensuring a bright future for our children.
Yet, all these hopes and aspirations are threatened by a serious challenge the danger posed by poisonous drugs. No place, city, or village is spared this menace is spreading indiscriminately. It must be defeated. Our mothers and fathers raise their children with high hopes, envisioning a better future for them. Yet these dreams are being shattered by the scourge of drug abuse. This problem affects everyone, rich and poor alike, without distinction of ethnicity Tamil or Sinhalese.
The enormous wealth generated by the drug trade has infiltrated our state machinery. Even from behind bars, some continue to operate these illicit networks. While our police carry out their duties with efficiency and dedication, a few individuals have become entrenched in this trade. Weak officials within the Department of Customs, the Motor Traffic Department and the Department of Immigration and Emigration have been exploited by these networks. It is not only these departments, key positions in the public service have also been compromised, and some officials have been identified and taken into custody.
If our children are falling victim to this trade and if parts of the public service have become strongholds for drug traffickers, we must seriously reflect on the direction in which our nation is heading. For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that this trade is defeated.
In the past, political protection shielded these traffickers. In some districts, politicians even began to publicly calling themselves by these drug labels. We want to give you one assurance the people of this country have built a government that will not allow drug traffickers to receive political protection. Today, the structures supporting these arrests have been cleared, yet there are still some incident reports in specific areas.
I urge all such officials to immediately cease these transactions. You are faced with a clear choice, either end your involvement in these dealings or resign from your position. We give our assurance that there will be no place in public service for those who conduct business with traffickers or operate in collusion with the underworld.
For this reason, we face the challenge of strengthening and purifying the state machinery responsible for drug raids, without any compromise or delay. At the same time, the people of our country must also dedicate themselves to this effort. Your child should never become a victim or instrument of the drug trade. As a government, our responsibility is to defeat this menace and I assure you that this is not an effort we will ever reverse.
The youth of the Northern region were deeply affected by years of war, leaving parents to live in fear and anxiety for their children. In the short period since the conflict ended, these same districts are once again becoming strongholds for drug networks. Parents are turning to us, asking for their children to be saved. For this reason, as the political authority, we are acting with firm resolve to defeat this menace. The support of the public is essential in this effort. We should not fear the criminals they should fear us. I call upon you to step forward. Grama Niladhari Officers and police personnel have been assigned to this task. If all of us work together, nationwide, as a united protective force, we can defeat this scourge. I urge you to prepare yourselves for this effort.
It is our own children who have fallen into this trap. We have failed to protect them. Those responsible are not only the youth who became entangled in this trade, but also all of us who were unable to save them. Their involvement is a result of our collective failure to uphold our responsibilities.
Therefore, simply conducting raids and taking children into custody is not enough. The leaders of these networks must be arrested and the entire criminal structure dismantled.
Moreover, this programme is not just about eradicating drugs. We must also create a brighter future for the children who were drawn into this trade. That is why we are establishing numerous rehabilitation centres across the country. Entrust your child, who has been affected by drugs, to this programme and we will help them regain the future you hope for. They will receive vocational training and guidance to become productive citizens and contribute meaningfully to society.
As the political authority, we are providing full leadership in this effort. I assure you that, without yielding to any intimidation or threats, we will uproot these organized criminal networks and drug traffickers from our country.
We want a nation where Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live together in harmony and brotherhood. For decades, we have lived with hatred and anger and gained nothing. Because of the war, children of parents in both the North and South were lost. The lasting consequence of this conflict is immense suffering. That is why we must build a nation that lives in unity, brotherhood and compassion, leaving no space for the resurgence of divisive ideologies.
I am aware that tensions and provocations arise in various places. Some individuals travel to Jaffna during Poya days, passing the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, but instead of observing the precepts, they spread hatred. They congregate around temples during every Poya, not for religious purposes, but to promote racism. I have instructed our intelligence agencies to investigate whether any of these individuals have legitimate claims to land or property in these areas. It is clear that extremist groups, having lost power, are attempting to revive racial divisions in small places. We will not allow any such racist tendencies to rise again in our country.
We do not want a country where people live in fear of one another. What we want is a nation built on brotherhood and mutual respect. We do not want young people who view others with suspicion, we need young people who approach others with love and trust. To achieve this, we are taking a series of concrete steps. First, we must build a strong and stable economy. Equal opportunities must be created for sports, arts, literature and cinema, giving Jaffna a new cultural and social environment. The mind-set of hatred toward others must be removed. We must foster a society that is compassionate, empathetic and sensitive to the needs of others.
I assure you that the trust you have placed in us will not be broken. For many of you, this is the first time you have entrusted your confidence to a government. In the past, the narrative in the North was that there was a government in the South and that the North needed a Tamil government. The government in the South never truly represented itself to the people in the North.
But let me tell you one thing, the people of the South did not even realize that the government in the South was their government. Not only for the North, but also for the South. It was a government built for a very small number of families, for their friends, for their relatives. Today, for the first time in Sri Lanka, a government of the people has been established. Today, people in the North, the South and across the East trust this government as their own.
As a result, we have built a government that respects and represents all Sinhalese, Muslims, and Tamils alike. This is a significant turning point. We cannot move forward with suspicion, hatred, or anger. Trust must exist among us. Therefore, I invite all of you to join together and build a better country, united in trust, harmony and shared purpose.
A substantial portion of the budget has been allocated for village development. These funds will be utilized only if the local communities actively participate. Last year, we allocated Rs. 5,000 million for constructing roads in villages across the Northern Province. However, some of these plans were delayed or not implemented. This year, an even larger allocation has been made for rural development. I urge everyone to ensure that these funds are properly used to provide the facilities that local communities need. By doing so, we can significantly improve the lives of our people.
Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar
A few months ago, we launched a nationwide programme in Colombo to eliminate illicit drugs. Today, the Northern Province component of this programme is being implemented in Jaffna. While the drug monster is surrounding the people, there are other monsters surrounding the drug monster.
Poverty and drug abuse are closely linked issues. Therefore, efforts to eliminate poverty must go hand in hand with this programme. According to government policy, priority is being given not only to the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative but also to the community empowerment programmes aimed at eradicating poverty. Both programmes are guided by this long-term vision.
There are politicians in Jaffna who oppose the government’s development projects. Despite invitations, some political parties have not participated in today’s event.
Nevertheless, all government officials have gathered here today. We believe that, together with them, the drug elimination programme in the Northern Province can be successfully implemented.
The event is also attended by the Maha Sangha of the Northern Province and other religious leaders, as well as public representatives including Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, Northern Province Governor, Nagalingam Vethanayagam, Jaffna District Members of Parliament Jeyachandramurthy Rajeevan, K. Ilankumaran, and Shanmuganathan Bhavanandraraja. Senior officials from the Ministry of Public Security, including Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Sampath Thuyacontha, Public Security Ministry Secretary, Ravi Seneviratne, Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, Jaffna Commandant, Major General K.A.N. Rasika Kumara and Northern Province Naval Commander Rear Admiral, Buddhika Liyanagamage, were also present. In addition, Jaffna District Secretary, M. Pradeepan, other government officials and a large number of citizens joined this occasion, demonstrating their support for the initiative.
