The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa expressed the government's support for the proposed amendments to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and the Judicature Act, citing decades of worsening drug addiction across all demographics and Sri Lanka's risk of becoming a regional narcotics hub. He highlighted increased enforcement activity under the current administration, citing a significant rise in drug-related arrests in the first half of 2025 compared to 2019 figures. He argued that legal reform alone is insufficient, and outlined a broader government strategy linking anti-drug efforts to poverty eradication through the "Praja Shakthi" national mission, which aims to connect addiction-affected families to rehabilitation and support services. He described a multi-tiered governance structure—including a National Operations Council, district task forces, and village-level committees—as the coordinating framework through which the legislative amendments would be implemented.