expectations have turned into individuals who bring harm to society, engaging in anti-social behaviour. No mother or father who cradles their child and feeds them with love ever imagines such a fate for them.

Yet hundreds of thousands of children have fallen victim to this addiction. It is not only the child’s life that is destroyed, the entire family unit collapses. Villages live in constant fear. If a household has a child in their teenage years, parents no longer allow them to move freely because of the fear gripping them. For this reason alone, we must overcome this menace.

From the outset, children who become exposed to drugs eventually turn to fraud and corruption. Later on, they become victims of drug networks themselves and even engage in contract killings. Many of those arrested in connection with crimes are addicted to drugs. This drug scourge has entirely engulfed the future of our country. Beyond that, a vast flow of illicit money circulates through drugs. Wealth that could never be earned through legitimate business over centuries is gained through a single shipment. That money is used for various illegal enterprises. It buys off weak individuals within the state system. At times, it intimidates them. Prison officers provide facilities to incarcerated criminals and when they refuse, threats are made against them and their families.

Currently, we observe a scenario in which external forces are threatening the state system to advance their own agendas. With the wealth they have accumulated, they build illegal armed groups. These groups have now become linked with the drug networks. This has severely affected our nation’s economy and social stability.

We have two paths before us. One is the old path we have followed so far, which is turning a blind eye and allowing the situation to worsen. As President, I could simply wait for my term to end. Officials too could ignore what is happening. That is the old, familiar path. If so, we must ask ourselves: will we fight to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to us as political authorities and officials, the duty we owe to the people of this country? Or will we not? Guided by our pure commitment to our motherland and to our people, the path we must choose is the path that defeats this menace. It is my duty to ensure that our children do not continue to fall victim to this disaster. It is your duty as well. Preventing the motherland and our children from becoming victims of this menace has become our collective mission and belief. We have taken the first steps.

We know that these armed criminals and drug-linked underworld leaders were nurtured under the protection of political leaders. It was politicians who gave them power. The power of a politician was used to address individuals from Suriyawewa and from Julampitiya. Everywhere, armed criminals and drug-linked offenders grew stronger because of political blessings and protection. This is a truth everyone knows. At one time, underworld leaders represented political executive committees. They even worked within presidential security divisions. They provided protection to various individuals. This is the reality.

But now, a government has been established that gives no political protection to any criminal or anyone involved in drug trafficking. We have been given a mandate by the people. With that mandate come public expectations and hopes. As leaders, our responsibility is to fulfil those expectations. That is why we have built this great national movement against the drug scourge. Different groups are attempting to create confusion, to distort our message, to bury the real issues and bring artificial ones to society.

When the State, its officials, the public and religious leaders all move forward with a clear objective, there are some who attempt to diverting the attention of society. We will not fall into those false traps. With steadfast determination, we will carry out this operation, achieve victory and save the nation.

Our officials and members of the security forces have worked tirelessly in this mission. I express my gratitude to all of them. We will not allow the dignity of your uniform or your office to be put down in the face of criminals. The decisions you take will be implemented and in any difficult situation, we will protect you. We will stand by you. You continue your work. I know you face great hardship. But we believe you will carry out your duties fearlessly.

Our Navy is making a significant contribution to this operation by safeguarding the country’s maritime borders. Our intelligence agencies continue to provide critical information, while the Army and Air Force extend essential support for field operations. Therefore, I am confident that we have the political will, and the state machinery to properly guide the officers to overcome this threat.

The public is well aware of drug addicts and dealers, who have suddenly accumulated massive wealth within their villages. Yet, fear prevents villagers from providing information. To address this, the Ministry of Public Security is establishing Public Security Committees, which must become strong, community-based structures. Villagers must stand up against corrupt individuals, drug traffickers and the criminal networks. I urge the public to transform this into a nationwide people’s movement. We must build drug-free families, drug-free villages, drug-free cities and ultimately a drug-free nation. Your participation is vital.

Our religious leaders, Most Venerable Theros , Priests, Maulavis and Kurukkals have an important role as well. We can harness the strong bond between religious institutions and village communities to defeat this crisis. Many individuals and organizations are joining hands to make this mission successful. A substantial allocation has been made in this year’s budget for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. We must strengthen rehabilitation efforts and rescue those who have fallen victim to addiction. Their addiction is not entirely their own fault it stems from our collective failure to create a society that protects them. Therefore, we must return these lost children to their parents.

To achieve this, we have planned to establish rehabilitation centres in every district. While dismantling the drug network on one side, we will reinforce rehabilitation on the other. This mission is one of the most important national tasks before us today. As a government, we are deeply committed to eliminating this scourge.

For over four decades, political protection, complicity among certain officials and advances in technology has allowed this threat to grow. Today, there is hardly a village or city untouched by

this menace. If we do not act now, it will soon reach every family. This must end before that happens. The tri-forces, together with the Police, have launched a major nationwide operation.

In the past, drugs entered the country mainly through the airport. Today, they arrive hidden in containers and boats. What began as airport smuggling has now expanded into shipments loaded onto vessels and even into the development of drug-manufacturing facilities. Therefore, a long-term, uninterrupted operation spanning several years is required to fully dismantle this threat. This is not a mission that involves catching a boat, issuing a press release and returning home. It demands consistency and persistence.

We will continue this operation until this scourge is defeated. We have sought the assistance of foreign governments. Many members of these networks are hiding abroad some have already been arrested and brought back, while others remain in foreign custody. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining individuals. We must dismantle the top leadership of these networks, break the second-tier distributors within the country and ultimately eliminate the village-level gram distributors. Only then will the system be fully cleansed.

Some parties are attempting to divert attention and mislead society. History offers many examples the President of Haiti was assassinated, a Presidential candidate in Mexico was killed. In some countries, when drug cartels were threatened, protesters even demanded the release of arrested drug lords. Why? Because drug traffickers possess immense wealth, which they use to protect themselves. They spend money to obstruct operations, influence narratives and mislead the public. Their intention is to disrupt these operations and shift public attention not to target the officers directly, but to weaken the mission itself. Their tactics include sparking protests, fuelling anti-government campaigns and creating fabricated crises to derail our national operation.

When we attempt to stop imports, traffickers find new methods to smuggle drugs. Those who interrupt these operations are threatened this is direct sabotage. The Police and the Armed Forces are deeply involved in these operations, yet traffickers target their families. That is the visible threat. But there is also an invisible threat conspiracies funded by illicit money to dilute, distort, or derail the government’s efforts. This is why the fight against this menace is not simply a confrontation between law enforcement and offenders; it is a much broader battle. 

There are other mechanisms and tools connected to this effort. Therefore, we will counter the destructive political forces that rise against our mission through political means. No officials are required to engage in political activities on our behalf. We will confront and defeat the political front that seeks to undermine the national movement we have built to eradicate this menace through politics alone. No government official or institution will be used for that purpose. We will carry out this work with determination. Are you ready? Will you join us? Even the officers who have been recognized for excellence have affirmed that this mission is achievable.

We have a highly trained and professional system within the Police and the Armed Forces. Therefore, I believe that if our professional police officers, our professional military, the state machinery, the Maha Sangha, religious leaders and the citizens unite, we can overcome this crisis. This decision we have taken is firm and unwavering. We will intensify our efforts on the second day more than on the first and even more on the third day than the second. As the political leadership, we will provide all necessary guidance to continue this operation until this menace is completely eliminated.

Let us unite and collaborate to rescue our country from the calamity we have all been compelled to face.

 (PMD)