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Govt. vows unyielding stand against drugs & underworld

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Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles declared an unwavering commitment to continuing the operation to suppress drug trafficking and underworld activities in the country, regardless of external pressures. Minister Alles emphasized that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has wholeheartedly endorsed the operation, ensuring that it will persist despite any potential impacts.

Minister Alles underscored the significance of public support, drawing parallels between the backing received to end the thirty-year war and the current necessity for a united front against drugs and underworld activities. He expressed the vision of creating an environment where future generations can live free from fear or doubt.

The Minister’s remarks were made during the ìCollective Path to a Stable Country ìmedia briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre today (21). The resolute stance articulated by Minister Tiran Alles signals the government’s dedication to combating these issues for the betterment of the nation’s security and stability.

Minister Tiran Alles further commented:

“The special operation known as ìYukthiyaî (Justice), implemented throughout the island, has become the subject of widespread discussion within the country. Despite ongoing issues with drugs and underworld activities, it was imperative to take decisive action to curb these activities. Thus, the ìYukthiyaî operation was initiated with the primary goal of putting an end to drug trafficking and underworld activities in the country. Special responsibilities have been assigned to community police committees in this regard.

The success of this operation hinges on the support of the people, particularly the media. Just as there was collective support for the security forces during the war, a similar unity is crucial now. While the Three Decades’ War was confined to the North and East, the current situation has spread throughout the entire country. Public support serves as a formidable strength for the police and therefore, it is requested that the public provides necessary support and accurate information for the success of this operation. With such support, it is believed that drug trafficking and underworld activities can be eradicated from the country by June of next year.

The Navy has initiated a special operation to prevent the smuggling of drugs into the country through the sea routes. The operation focuses on disrupting the distribution network, stopping underworld activities associated with drug trafficking, and paying special attention to drug users. Instructions have been given to the Inspector General of Police to concentrate on apprehending drug dealers rather than drug addicts.

Intelligence reports indicate the involvement of 4,665 individuals in drug trafficking and the underworld. Orders have been given to arrest all these individuals, resulting in the arrest of 731 people in the last four days alone, including those not initially mentioned in intelligence reports. Additionally, 8,451 others have been arrested, with 346 in detention, 61 undergoing asset investigations and 697 referred for rehabilitation.

During these operations, the police have successfully seized a substantial quantity of drugs, including marijuana, hashish, heroin and ice valued at Rs. 431 million in the past four days. When considering assets such as vehicles, houses and properties belonging to the suspects as liabilities, their total value amounts to around Rs. 162 million. All confiscated items will undergo legal proceedings for forfeiture.

Prior to commencing this operation, discussions were held with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who shares the stance that drug trafficking and underworld activities must be eradicated from the country. With the President’s blessings, this operation will persist despite any external influence. The commitment is to create an environment where drugs and underworld activities can be eliminated, ensuring that future generations can live without fear or doubt.

Moreover, concerns have been raised about the abuse of children and women. To address these issues, instructions have been given to introduce a special hotline, similar to the police emergency number, from the first week of January. Women police officers will operate under this dedicated phone number, recognizing that women may hesitate to share their problems with male police officers. Furthermore, plans are underway to introduce a new hotline specifically for submitting complaints in Tamil.”

(President’s Media Division)

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Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith meets Pope Leo XIV (Pics)

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The Archbishop of Colombo – Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has met the newly appointed Pope Robert Prevost.

The Archdiocese of Colombo shared pictures on social media of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Pope Robert Prevost engaging in cordial discussions.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith met with the new Pope following his participation in the Papal Conclave in the Vatican City to elect a new Pope.

(Pics :  FB page of News – Archdiocese of Colombo)

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High blood pressure causes 70% of deaths in SL – MOH

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Around 70% of all deaths in Sri Lanka are linked to complications from high blood pressure, according to the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit at the Ministry of Health.

Consultant Dr. Samindhi Samarakoon from the NCD Unit stated that a 2021 national survey found 34.8% of Sri Lanka’s population suffers from high blood pressure.

Alarmingly, 64% of those diagnosed are not on any form of medication, she added.

“Most of the time, there are no early symptoms. Often, the first sign is a stroke. Sometimes, it appears as a heart attack. Hypertension is also a leading cause of kidney diseases,” Dr. Samarakoon explained.

We do a survey every five years on Non-Communicable Disease. According to the 2021 survey data, around 70% of deaths in the country are caused by conditions related to high blood pressure, only 18% of people with hypertension were aware of their condition, with 54.7% of diagnosed cases being newly identified. Alarmingly, just 14% of those diagnosed had their blood pressure under control, highlighting a very serious situation.

Dr. Samarakoon emphasized the importance of prevention and early detection, noting that while ‘Suwadivi’ clinics are available in addition to hospitals, patient turnout remains very low; she stressed the need for annual blood pressure checks, highlighted the harmful effects of smoking and alcohol – particularly among men – and underscored the importance of regular physical activity.

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Private security officers arrested over theft at Swiss Ambassador’s residence

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Colombo, May 14 (Daily Mirror) – The Kollupitiya Police have arrested three individuals, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of a private security firm and another security officer, in connection with a theft at the official residence of the Swiss Ambassador in Colombo, where gold jewellery, including a diamond-studded ring and luxury wristwatches worth approximately Rs. 4.5 million were stolen from a safe.

According to police, the investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by the Swiss Ambassador, who had left for Switzerland on April 12 and returned on April 27.

Investigations revealed that after the Ambassador’s departure, the suspects gained access to her safe using a key that had been illegally duplicated. The jewellery and watches were subsequently stolen.

Following interrogations, police also arrested a locksmith who had allegedly made the duplicate key used in the theft.

Police have recovered several rings, believed to be part of the stolen items, from the one of the suspect security officers in Weligama.

At the time of the theft, two female domestic workers and a cook were present at the residence. They were questioned and later released after being cleared of any involvement.

The three suspects were produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court and have been remanded until May 22.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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