Immediate Orders to Destroy Seized Narcotics Without Delay

26-Mar-2026

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A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a committee appointed to address legal barriers to the rapid destruction of seized narcotics was held on March 24 at the Presidential Secretariat.

The President stressed the importance of promptly destroying confiscated drugs to strengthen public confidence in the government’s anti-narcotics efforts and called for an immediate mechanism to achieve this.

A draft legal amendment has already been prepared to expedite the process. Discussions focused on further reducing delays in narcotics destruction under the proposed provisions.

Operational challenges faced by courts, police, and the Government Analyst’s Department were also reviewed.

Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath Jayawardena outlined legal issues encountered during prosecutions.

The need to eliminate all loopholes that allow traffickers to escape or evidence to re-enter society was strongly emphasised.

Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya briefed on current procedures and measures taken to address existing challenges.

Upgrading facilities at the Government Analyst’s Department to accelerate the process was also discussed.

It was agreed to submit the amended bill to the Cabinet shortly.