By: Faraz Shauketaly
November 03, Colombo (LNW): At risk may well be his political legacy. AKD stunned the majority getting ejected from 3% to 43% if the votes and secured victory after the second count. It was close but it appears an un extinguishable fire will conspire to soil AKD’s legacy: the growing menace of ICE.
The efforts by the government are commendable including transferring out various top notch police officers in an effort to drastically reduce the importation and distribution of these ultra addictive substances.
Unless Sri Lanka adopts significantly harsher penalties it is unlikely to be a successful anti drug drive.
The time has never been better. The ambiance in which detectives are able to work means that officers can do their jobs without any let or hindrance especially from the ruling politicians.
The focus must be on the so called big guns. If this government really didn’t consider the full implications of bringing a half baked investigation to play against the former President – and then taking a negative hit on it – there should be absolutely no qualms of going after the big Drug Boys.
The disgraced former IGP and the reasons he was expelled from the force minus his pension bears testimony to how deeply rooted and endemic corruption and influence peddling has become in Sri Lanka.
President AKD must personally drive the hunt against the principals behind ongoing importation of these drugs.
It is, we aver, far more potent than evicting former presidents – even if necessary as a message – but not as urgent as eradicating the mass imports of these drugs.
The big guns must be found out called out and for the moment sent to join Mahindananda in jail.
Every prominence must be given to the harsh terms in order that there is zero misunderstanding of the penalties in place. Life for everything connected to the importation and confiscation of assets must be the norm. The President must be decisive and incisive.
