“President Anura Kumara Issues Warning to State Officials: Do Not Protect Drug Traffickers”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has warned state officials that under his government, drug traffickers will not be given political protection under any circumstances.
The President made these remarks while addressing the Northern Province programme of the national initiative “Ratama Ekata” (The Whole Country Together).
He stated that it has been revealed that certain corrupt and weak officials within state departments are colluding with drug traffickers. He said he is once again calling on such officials to disengage from these activities, warning that if they fail to do so, they will be instructed to step down from their official duties.
“Even individuals who are already in prison custody are continuing to run these drug operations. Our police are carrying out a highly efficient service, but a few individuals have fallen victim to this criminal network.
Weak officials working within the Customs Department, the Department of Motor Traffic, and the Department of Immigration and Emigration have become entangled in this menace.
We have identified officials in senior positions within the public service who have fallen prey to this threat, and some have already been arrested. If public servants themselves are becoming victims of this criminal enterprise, where exactly is our country heading?
Therefore, we must decisively defeat this operation.
Previously, this drug trade was largely sustained by political protection. I can give you a firm assurance: the people of this country have now built a government under which drug traffickers will no longer receive political protection.
It has been exposed that even the heads of institutions mandated to suppress these crimes have engaged in dealings with these individuals. Evidence has been fabricated to secure the release of those who were arrested.
We have a history in this country where the top positions of law enforcement institutions were compromised. For a period, officials were bought. For another period, they submitted and worked under pressure. Today, that has changed completely.
The mechanisms for making arrests have been transformed. However, isolated incidents are still being reported. I appeal to all such officials: please abandon these dealings.
You have only two choices. Either abandon these illegal dealings, or leave public service altogether. I give my assurance that no one will be allowed to perform public duties while engaging in transactions with criminal traffickers.”