The Deputy Minister made these remarks while addressing a public program held in Matara.
He said that discussions are currently underway on whether drug traffickers can be legally held without bail for the duration of court proceedings, adding that the matter is being given serious consideration by the government.
Deputy Minister Watagala further revealed that an amendment to the Poisons Act will be presented to Parliament on the 19th, with the aim of strengthening existing laws to combat drug trafficking. He said the proposed amendment forms part of a broader legal reform initiative targeting the drug trade.
“We have already passed legislation to trace and recover the proceeds of crime, and the police are actively implementing it,” he said, noting that law enforcement agencies have been given stronger legal tools to disrupt drug networks.
The government maintains that these measures are necessary to strengthen law enforcement, dismantle organized drug networks, and curb the flow of illegal narcotics into the country.
