2026-02-19 / Debate (Continued): Judicature (Amendment) Bill and Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill - Committee and Third Reading 2026-02-19
## Summary
Hon. Abeywickrama spoke in support of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and the Judicial Organization (Amendment) Bill (No. 2 of 1978), arguing that Sri Lanka's justice institutions had been systematically captured by criminal and drug networks since the liberalisation of 1978, a situation he characterised as a "criminal state." He outlined the government's ongoing reform agenda, including modernising courts, strengthening investigative institutions, and addressing severe prison overcrowding—where facilities built for approximately 10,000 inmates currently hold 30,000–40,000—with Budget funds allocated for infrastructure improvements and rehabilitation programmes. The speaker also referenced the "Whole Country Together" anti-drug operation, which has established Public Security Committees across all 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions, and indicated that a broader package of legal reforms is planned for presentation by December.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we debate the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, and the Judicial Organization (Amendment) Bill (No. 2 of 1978). Under the mandate given to us, and as clearly stated in our policy statement, we aim to uphold the Rule of Law and ensure a peaceful, free life for our people by strengthening institutions that deliver justice.
Since the open economy of 1978, without proper safeguards, political culture, underworld crime, and narcotics intertwined nationwide. This did not happen in isolation; political actors, officeholders, and even institutions formed to protect the public were captured by criminals and the drug mafia, oppressing the people. In September 2024, the people gave us power to free the country from the criminal state. In the past year, we have begun the required transformations and laid the foundation across sectors, including politics—restoring politics to serve the people and reestablishing the Rule of Law and economic stability, as acknowledged by international and local assessments.
Reforming the legal sector is challenging. Ours had become a criminal state; institutions enforcing law and justice were trapped in that web. We cannot reverse this overnight. We are steadily and thoughtfully modernizing each area—providing facilities to courts, recruiting and training sufficient judicial officers and staff, and improving infrastructure. We are strengthening investigative institutions and ensuring their independence.
Prisons bear special responsibility in the justice process. Facilities designed for about 10,000 inmates now hold 30,000–40,000. Prisons must be modernized and rehabilitation ensured. Previously, we mainly incarcerated youth ensnared by drugs; now we are taking steps to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into society. The President allocated significant funds in the last Budget; work is being prepared to modernize prisons and facilities.
By December we plan to present a series of legal reforms across sectors. Our goal is to restore Rule of Law and ensure justice, as mandated by the people.
Through the “Whole Country Together” national anti-drug operation, we established Public Security Committees in all 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions, uniting with the people through a community-based approach. We are steering the country out of the criminal state towards a cultured state. I conclude.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Order, please! The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees will now take the Chair.