The United States has donated state-of-the-art drug testing equipment to Sri Lanka as part of a wider regional initiative to enhance forensic laboratory capabilities and address the growing challenge posed by synthetic drugs.

The Radian ASAP system, a portable device capable of rapidly screening synthetic substances such as fentanyl, was officially handed over by US Deputy Chief of Mission Jayne Howell to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) in Colombo. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala and NDDCB Chairman Dr Indika Wanninayake.

The handover coincided with the conclusion of a two-week training programme for forensic experts from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Conducted in Colombo, the training was supported by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), in collaboration with the Colombo Plan.

The initiative forms part of a broader US-led effort to improve regional capacity to detect and prevent the spread of synthetic narcotics, with further equipment donations planned for other South Asian countries.

US officials noted that the initiative underscores a shared commitment to public health and regional security, particularly amid the escalating global crisis surrounding synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.