I Have Decided to Eradicate the Dark Kingdom: President Anura

04-Oct-2025

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“I have resolved to eradicate the ‘black kingdom’ to protect the governance established by the Constitution and to safeguard the country. I will not abandon the tough decisions taken for the nation,” President Anuragumar Dhissanayake declared, swearing an oath to the chief clerics.

He said society cannot be rebuilt without eliminating the drug trade and underworld groups. He spoke at a ceremonial event held on 03-10-2025 at the historic Mahul Maduwa Sabha Mandapa in the Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa premises to present a Sannas (royal grant) to the newly appointed Asunayaka of the Siam Maha Nikaya’s Asgiri chapter, the venerable Narambanave Ananda Thera.

In his speech the President said:

Society faces numerous pressures. The collapsed economy can be rebuilt, but if society itself collapses completely, it cannot be restored quickly. Our society has declined in many ways. Therefore the society needs a new turning point. The needs of society must be studied. We act according to the responsibilities and duties provided by the Constitution.

Religious leaders and Chief Prelates have a large responsibility to rebuild and guide society. A deep study of social structure reveals many problems and declines.

A government has been established under the Constitution. In contrast, there is a parallel structure called the ‘black kingdom’ with powers outside constitutional bounds. Like institutions created by law — police, the passport and immigration departments, and the motor vehicle department — similar structures exist within the ‘black kingdom’.

Either we accept the black kingdom and carry on our administration, or we abandon constitutional governance and let everyone move to the black kingdom. Otherwise, to protect constitutionally created governance, we must eradicate the black kingdom.

I have decided to eliminate the black kingdom to protect the constitutional governance and the country. I will not abandon the difficult decisions taken to protect the nation, and I pledge this to the Chief Prelates.

The damage caused by the black kingdom to society can be seen daily in the news. If society is to be corrected, we must bring the black kingdom to an end. I have taken steps for that. Those engaged in drug dealing and trading must abandon their old habits and desist from their activities, he said.