Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani

## Summary Hon. Chathuri Gangani spoke in support of two legislative amendments — to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and the Judicial Organization Act — designed to criminalise drug manufacture, possession, and trafficking on the high seas, and to vest jurisdiction over such maritime offences in the High Court. She contextualised the amendments by referencing Sri Lanka's position as a transshipment hub in the Eastern Indian Ocean, citing UNODC data and a sharp domestic increase in drug-related arrests from 97,416 in 2020 to 228,450 in 2024. The speaker highlighted the disproportionate impact on youth and women, and noted early results from the Government's "Whole Country Together – Get Out" anti-narcotics operation, including significant drug seizures and arrests made through INTERPOL cooperation with several countries.