Defence Secretary: Kamal Gunaratne
Accused war criminal and Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne, has pledged that “operations to curb illegal drugs rings in the island would be further strengthened during the next year”.
Sri Lanka’s “Drug Menace”
Earlier this year Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa insisted that Sri Lanka would be “free from drugs [the] same way as it was freed from terrorism”. He added that “several measures are already in place to prevent drug infiltration and distribution”. Since the end of the armed conflict, there has been an escalation in military surveillance and harassment in the North-East.
In recent months Sri Lankan police officers have been arrested for their involvement in an illegal drug ring. The officers arrested would meet international drug smugglers in the India ocean and then bring the drugs to safe houses in Sri Lanka. During the years that smuggling ring was run, the officers gained cash rewards for their services and making “major drug busts”. It was later revealed that some of these drugs busts were staged.
Read more here: Over a dozen police officers arrested
JVP MP Vijirth Herath spoke in parliament last month claiming that the murder of Makandure Madush, a notorious drug “kingpin” who was under police custody was done to protect 80 politicians complicit in drug smuggling.
Read more here: Drug kingpin killed to protect the identity of 80 politicians claims JVP MP
