Political protection for drug trafficking must end - Azath Salley

Colombo (News 1st): At an event held in Malabe today (February 8), Governor of the Western Province Azath Salley said that drug trafficking and murders that take place in Sri Lanka are directed from Dubai. 'Makandure Madush' who was recently arrested was known as Ajith Avanka Wanigasuriya in Dubai. The Governor revealed that he had many pseudonyms in Sri Lanka. Governor Salley said that among the 31 perpetrators arrested in Dubai and produced before the judiciary were popular singers. He mentioned that some politicians protect these perpetrators and this must end. Salley said that President Sirisena was patient for four years and could not tolerate this anymore. He commented that drug trafficking had surged in our country and Sri Lanka had emerged as the country with the highest demand for drugs in the Asian continent. Salley pointed out that since the police was taken under the purview of the President, 1000 to 2000 kilos of narcotics are seized every day. He noted that when drugs were seized previously, they were taken to the police and transferred to the laboratory, where the drugs turned into sawdust. Commenting on DIG Latif, Salley said that many hoped he would retire on February 4th, however, the President announced in the cabinet that he will grant a One-year service extension to Senior DIG Latif, in order to facilitate drug eradication in Sri Lanka. Salley said the temples, kovils, mosques, schools and civil societies should join hands as it is only then that the future generation could be saved from this drug menace.