Agencies/Colombo
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday asked ministries and institutions to commit themselves to fulfil the responsibilities and duties bestowed upon them in a perfectly satisfactory manner.
This he said is particularly needed in the programmes implemented by the government to eradicate the drug menace in the country, ColomboPage online newspaper reported.
The president during a special discussion at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday discussed the problems the relevant authorities face when implementing the national programme to eradicate the drug menace.
He advised the relevant officials to present a report to him regarding the issues facing each ministry and institutions when implementing the drug eradicating programmes and new proposals as well as shortages in the projects.
During the discussion, the attention was drawn to issues related to the raids and the legal issues arising when conducting raids on the smuggled drugs.
The officials drew the attention of the president to the issues arise due to the lack of co-ordination between the relevant authorities when conducting raids and enforcing of laws. The president emphasised the importance of everyone working unitedly for the success of the National Policy to eradicate the drug menace.
Use of modern technology while raiding and providing training to relevant officials was discussed in detail. Also attention was drawn to implement a programme to felicitate the officers who are involved in raids and to encourage them further.
Secretary to the President P B Abeykoon, Director of the Presidential Task Force for Drug Prevention Dr Samantha Kumara, Additional Secretary to the President Rohana Dissanayake, Commissioner General of Excise L KG Gunawardena, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Additional Director General Thilak Perera and other officials participated in the discussion.
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena
