Sri Lanka: Sirisena Says Government To Strengthen Drug Laws

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said that the Government will take every possible step to eradicate the menace of drugs by strengthening laws related to drug raids.

Sirisena further said that the government will create an environment where the officers will be able to operate in a strong way by removing obstacles faced by them when using their powers as the officers or enforcing laws and regulations relating to drugs.

Sirisena was speaking at the 64th anniversary celebrations of the Association of Chief Excise Inspectors and Excise Inspectors, held at the New Town Hall, Colombo.

Additionally, Sirisena pointed out that it is a weakness of our society in not admiring people who do a great service to the country. He further said that the new Government will implement a program to encourage and admire officers like Excise Inspectors who render a valuable service to the society.

The purpose of the new government is to maintain the functions of institutions like Excise Department, the Department of Inland Revenue, Customs, which generate income to the State in a corruption free and a more transparent manner, he added.

Sirisena said that as a Government which is committed to create a drug free country will not wish to include the income from the Department of Excise in the future when preparing the budget of the country. The President requested Excise officers to fulfill their duties in a perfectly satisfactory manner to safeguard our future generation from drug menace and to build a better and healthy nation.

Minister Ravi Karunanayake, ChathuraSenarathna-MP, Commissioner General of the Excise Department Buddhikaveragoda and other dignitaries participated in the event.