Drug traffickers including politicians should be punished

Those who are involved in drug trafficking including those in politics both in the government and the Opposition must be punished, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said on Saturday. “Perpetrators should not be allowed to evade the law, and they must be punished and if there are those in politics who assist them, they too need to be punished, the Cardinal said at a rally organised by the church at Basilica College in Ragama over the weekend.

He said one should remember that persons who hold various prominent positions are engaged in this social ill.

“We often hear news items about narcotics being brought in containers from here and there and that they were seized” he said while calling on the ministers and MPS from the Catholic faith not to commit such acts.

He added that persons who commit these acts must be punished, no matter what their religion is, and what language they speak. Chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkhitha Thera said children get addicted to drugs because of mental distress. The Ven. Thera therefore said parents should also play a major role in saving the children from this social ill.

IGP Pujith Jayasundara who also participated in the meeting publicised his mobile telephone numbers requesting the people to provide information on drug trafficking. He told the crowds to call 0718952020 and give him information pertaining to drug trafficking.

Religious leaders representing all religions from Ragama, Kandana and Ja-ela participated in this antidrugs march. The march which commenced from St. Peter’s Church in Ragama concluded at the Basilica Grounds in Ragama.