SECURITY FORCES FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS INSIDE PRISONS
Government is considering to introduce laws which makes legal provisions to allow police and the security forces to carry out search operations inside prisons, Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Law and Order Jayamaha told a media briefing that he and cabinet Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara together with Minister of Justice Talatha Athukorala is focusing on introducing new laws to curb operating drug distribution mafias from inside prisons. Mr. Jayamaha said the distribution of Rs 1200 million worth of heroin which was recovered recently has been organized by a gang leader while being in prison.
“Arresting and putting the drug dealers behind bars had not stopped the distribution of drugs and therefore it has become necessary to allow security forces and the police to carry out search operations other than the prison officers. We have focused on bringing new laws to this effect,” the Deputy Minister said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jayamaha said 335 weapons including 14 T56 guns, 11 pistols, 7,375 bullets and 284 other weapons have been recovered this year so far. He said recovery of narcotic drugs have also increased this year. Accordingly, 139kgs of heroin has been recovered while 16,630 raids have been carried out and 16,863 persons arrested. Some 2,721 kgs of Ganja has been recovered while 24,598 raids have been carried out with 24,581 persons arrested. In addition 11.5 kgs of Cocaine has been recovered while 7 raids have been carried out while seven has been arrested. Asked whether The recent killing of a Colombo Municipal Council member is a result of gang warfare and the killing of a songstress was a result of a family dispute this data indicates an increase in usage, he said data could also indicate a beginning of the end of drug smuggling in Sri Lanka.
Referring to organized crime, the Deputy Minister said most incidents are results of gang warfare and personal grudges. The recent killing of a Colombo Municipal Council member is a result of gang warfare and the killing of a songstress was a result of a family dispute. “However the government is committed to end the underworld activities,” he said.
“Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that the rule of law in the country had declined. However, he had forgotten what happened during his time. Several journalists were killed during his time. Almost 87 journalists were subjected to harassment. Eknaligoda disappeared .Frontline Socialist Party activist Kumar Gunaratnam was abducted. Lalith Kugan disappeared there is no trace of them. People were killed in Rathupaswala, Roshen Chanaka was killed in Katunayake. Don’t these incidents reflect a declining of rule of law before 2015?,” he questioned.