Stern rules will be imposed against those who use and keep toxin drugs - the President
April 03, 2019President Maithripala Sirisena said that severe rules will be imposed against those who import, sell, and keep toxin drugs.
President Maithripala Sirisena made these remarks during a meeting held regarding the draft of the new act on drug control and reduction of crimes, at the President's office today (2).
The meeting discussed the issues of delays in taking legal actions against those who are in prison related to drug offenses due to delay in obtaining reports on quantity of drugs and analysis reports from the Government Analyst Department, which is hindered for staff resource shortages and other practical drawbacks. These setbacks should be cleared off through a proper study with the collaboration of the Government Analyst Department, Attorney General's Department and Police Department with the core contribution of the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms. The President instructed Minister of Justice and Prison Reform Thalatha Athukorala take the necessary action on this without delay.
The attention was given for the programs that are being carried out by different public institutions, and private organizations on rehabilitating drug addicts and it was suggested that they should discuss within their own institutes and formulate a broad common program for rehabilitating the drug addicts.
During this meeting, it was discussed regarding the progress of making required amendments to the Excise Ordinance and the President instructed the Finance Ministry to immediately submit the relevant amendments to the cabinet.
It was also discussed regarding the amendments to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The security issues of the prisons and the development activities of the Boossa Prison were also discussed and the President inquired the officials about the progress of the transferring inmates of the Welikada Prison to the Boossa Prison.
The officials stated that changes are being implemented by the Department of Motor Traffic using modern technology and the programme launched to prevent road accidents were also reviewed.
Minister of Justice , Thalatha Athukorala , Secretary to the President Udaya R. Senevirathne, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and the relevant Heads of the institutions, IGP Pujith Jayasundara and others participated in this discussion.
Courtesy: pmdnews.lk