• NDDCB notes need for 2-pronged approach to supply-demand reduction 

National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) Chairman Attorney-at-Law Shakya Nanayakkara said that new forms of drugs, including “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) along with 500 new other drugs under different classes which are being misused currently and are potentially likely to be abused in the future, have been included within the schedule of the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, No. 41 of 2022.

“The new Amendment to the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Act in 2022 has included new forms of drugs including ‘ice’ and up to 500 new drugs of new varieties under different classes, which are being misused currently and will potentially be misused in the future, within the relevant schedule, and the law is strengthened by it,” he said while speaking during a TV Derana programme.

Nanayakkara highlighted that there are two methods to fight this drug mafia.

“There are two ways to fight this – through supply reduction and demand reduction, as there is a supply due to a demand, and the fight has to be fought from both these ends. There are policies and laws concerning both these ends, and both have to be fought concurrently.”

He added that high-profile drug lords had began questioning the inclusion of “ice” in the schedule of the Act when “ice” was seized. “When this new drug was introduced in 2020, we were unable to control it as drug usage escalated to a certain extent. When ‘ice’ was seized, the said high-profile drug lords started inquiring as to where it was listed in the schedule. However, this was included in the Act implemented to control smuggling, but it was difficult to institute proceedings under the said Act, as our police officials were not aware of how proceedings can be instituted under the Act. This loophole was always present. 

Under Sri Lankan law, the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance was amended on several occasions. For example, it was amended under the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 1984 and also as the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, No. 41 of 2022. When considering the new forms of drugs, especially if methamphetamine was in someone’s possession, they could not be arrested or tried in court, which was an issue up until 2022, as methamphetamine was not listed in the schedule of the Act,” he explained while responding to a question posed on whether the Sri Lankan law is sufficient to fight drug crime.

The Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill passed in Parliament on 19 October 2022, came into effect as the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, No. 41 of 2022 from 23 November 2022 onwards. The Amendment of this Act is expected to update and strengthen the laws regarding the possession, use, and importation of drugs.