October 01, Colombo (LNW): An internal investigation conducted by the Police Headquarters has revealed that the ‘Yukthiya’ operation, aimed at curbing drug-related activities, has fallen short of its intended goals.
The operation, which was widely publicised, failed to produce a noticeable increase in drug-related arrests compared to previous years, according to senior officers.
Senior police officials have reported to the Acting Inspector General of Police that the operation largely appeared to be a media spectacle rather than a successful law enforcement initiative.
They pointed out that instead of targeting high-level drug dealers, many of the individuals arrested during the operation were people with past involvement in drug trafficking, but who had since moved away from the illegal trade.
This has raised concerns about the validity and fairness of the arrests, with claims that many of those detained were simply drug users rather than key figures in the drug trade.
Further concerns were raised over the inclusion of drugs seized by the Navy during off-shore raids, which were presented as part of the ‘Yukthiya’ operation.
This, according to sources, contributed to a misleading narrative about the success of the initiative.
Additionally, the investigation has highlighted the disruption caused to routine police duties, as officers were redirected to focus on ‘Yukthiya’.
The operation, believed by some to have been politically motivated, diverted significant resources from regular police work, affecting law enforcement activities at local police stations.
In response to the growing concerns, the Acting Inspector General has since returned officers involved in the operation to their standard duties.
Despite the reported shortcomings of ‘Yukthiya’, the Police Headquarters has affirmed that efforts to combat drug trafficking and organised crime remain ongoing in a structured and organised manner.
Meanwhile, both the National Police Commission and the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) have received numerous complaints from individuals claiming they were wrongfully arrested during the operation.
These complaints add to the growing scrutiny of the initiative and its impact on citizens.
The ‘Yukthiya’ operation, initially launched with the promise of tackling the underworld drug trade, now faces questions over its execution and effectiveness, casting doubt on the overall strategy employed to address one of Sri Lanka’s most pressing issues.
