2026-02-19 / Debate (Continued): Judicature (Amendment) Bill and Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill - Committee and Third Reading 2026-02-19
The Deputy Minister of Defence introduced amendments targeting drug trafficking in Sri Lankan maritime zones, explaining that traffickers exploit the high seas beyond the country's Exclusive Economic Zone through transfers between mother ships and multi-day fishing vessels. He rejected allegations linking NPP MPs in Puttalam to drug traffickers, stating that credible evidence should be formally submitted. The Deputy Minister identified key legal gaps, including the misuse of attorney powers to shield vessel owners from prosecution and the deliberate disabling of Vessel Monitoring Systems once vessels leave the EEZ, and proposed stronger laws to criminalise such conduct and enable interdictions. He also outlined a proposal to streamline drug destruction procedures by allowing bulk seizures to be destroyed promptly under Magistrate supervision following sampling, rather than being held in long-term storage.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, these amendments target drug trafficking on the high seas. An allegation was made that NPP MPs in Puttalam have links with traffickers. We categorically deny this. If there is credible information, provide it; when an OIC was named earlier, the Ministry of Public Security took action.
Traffickers operate beyond our Exclusive Economic Zone, in high seas handovers between mother ships and multi-day fishing vessels or trawlers. Our Navy, Coast Guard and Police Narcotics Bureau have conducted many joint operations with international partners, making substantial seizures—heroin, hashish, “ice,” Kerala ganja—and intercepting dozens of multi-day vessels since 2019.
Significant legal gaps remain. Many vessel owners assign “attorney powers” to skippers, complicating action against true owners. Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on multi-day boats are often switched off once they exit our EEZ, vanishing from radar before meeting foreign traffickers. We need stronger laws to criminalize such conduct, facilitate interdictions in our maritime approaches, and ensure swift prosecution and deterrent penalties.
We also propose streamlined destruction of seized drugs. Rather than warehousing exhibits for long periods, a Magistrate can be summoned, samples taken by the Government Analyst, and the bulk destroyed promptly under court supervision. These amendments will reinforce national and maritime security and strengthen our anti-narcotics campaign.