Drug Cartels Undermine State Machinery - President

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued a strong warning, calling the drug menace “one of the gravest threats to our nation” and pledging unwavering commitment to dismantle organized crime linked to narcotics.

Speaking on the scale of the crisis, the President highlighted three critical concerns:

Impact on Youth: “It devastates our younger generation, drawing them into addiction.”

Rise of Organized Crime: “The enormous wealth generated through drug trafficking and the fierce competition to control this market have fueled gang violence.”

Corruption of State Machinery: “Most alarming is how this illicit money has infiltrated and weakened our state systems.”

The President cited recent inspections at Boossa Prison, revealing dozens of mobile phones during every raid—even when checks are conducted twice a month—underscoring the depth of corruption and criminal influence.

He warned that the drug trade has triggered theft, violence, family disputes, and community breakdown, destabilizing society on an unprecedented scale. 

“No matter what plans or development projects we implement, they will fail if we cannot restore stability and integrity,” he said. “We can build skyscrapers and attract investments, but all of it will collapse like a house of cards if we do not defeat this scourge.”