• Says Police risk allowance and Tri-Forces food allowance under review

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country has reached a dangerous point where political power risks becoming intertwined with drug-linked criminal networks.

President Dissanayake said the Government is working towards an independent foreign policy without adhering to any foreign nation while protecting Sri Lanka’s stability in the present conflict-ridden world.

He said this while participating in the Central Province programme of the ‘Nation United’ national drive to eliminate the drug menace held in Nuwara Eliya on Wednesday (11). 

The President said that internally, there is a world with various contradictions and conflicts. There are wars for market share, he stressed. 

President Dissanayake further said that a public service is needed to build the country. “We are trying to create a very advanced public service. We are providing the necessary facilities including digitalisation and vehicles,” he said. He stated that the Government has provided the highest salary increments for the public service. Dissanayake said the Government is spending Rs. 330 billion for public sector salary increases alone.

“According to current World Bank reports, the damage caused to our economy by cyclone Ditwah amounts to approximately United States Dollars 4.1 billion. Destruction worth around Rs. 1.2 trillion has been reported, which is about four per cent of our gross domestic product. We have allocated over Rs. 500 billion for reconstruction following Ditwah. We did not borrow a single cent for this. We did not print money. Our Treasury account held around Rs. 1,200 billion and from that, we allocated Rs. 500 billion for this purpose. In this conflict-ridden world, we are working towards a non-aligned foreign policy that safeguards our stability without aligning ourselves with any side. We are making efforts to establish a highly developed and robust public service. Regarding the Police and the Tri-Forces, I’m aware there are issues regarding your allowances. The food allowances for members of the Armed Forces and the risk allowance for Police officers are all currently under review. After implementing the third salary increment next year (in 2027), we will carefully examine the Budget and consider the provision of the remaining allowances. We must establish the supremacy of the rule of law. Therefore, we are committed to strengthening the rule of law. We must give real meaning to the principle that all are equal before the law. People must have confidence that the law will be enforced regardless of wealth or power. Everyone must be subject to the law. There must be a sense of respect and fear of the law. The main threat we face is illicit drugs. Today, illicit drugs have spread across villages and towns. The shootings that took place in recent times are driven by competition over control of the drug market. The shootings that have occurred in various places in recent times are driven by competition to control and divide the illicit drug trade. Illegal narcotics have fuelled the emergence of armed criminal groups. As a result, our children are being drawn into dealings involving illegal weapons. These networks accumulate vast amounts of wealth, with large sums of money circulating within them. Some weak and compromised State officials fall prey to this money. Some Local Government (LG) Chairpersons have been directly linked to criminal activity. Others use this illicit money to form political parties. There are politicians who have provided protection and patronage to drug traffickers. In connection with this, several LG Councillors have already been arrested. Those who sell drugs in our villages are no longer hidden figures, they operate openly within society. Yet, they spread fear among the people and have even intimidated our Prison officers. We have already put plans in place to put an end to this. We respect democracy and human rights. We are accountable for safeguarding the lives and security of our people. Therefore, we are prepared to take decisive action. Across the country, public security committees have been established at the Grama Niladhari level. We must disrupt the routes through which drugs enter the country. Many drug traffickers are currently based overseas, and some of them have already been apprehended. Funds have been allocated in this year’s (2026) Budget to establish rehabilitation centres across the country. In addition, a National Council has been formed with the involvement of the Buddhist clergy and religious leaders. If just five to 10 minutes of your sermons are devoted to conveying a message to the society about this menace, we can build a strong and powerful public conscience. Likewise, if schoolteachers and principals take this message to the wider community, it can take root as a shared social conviction. We are a Government that has completely withdrawn political protection once afforded to drug traffickers. We have granted the Police and the Armed Forces full freedom to carry out this task”.