Former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has urged the Government to provide substantial financial relief to the public through the 2027 Budget, warning that failure to address the economic hardships faced by ordinary people could trigger growing public dissatisfaction and stronger political criticism.
He said the Government must prioritise meaningful financial assistance, tax reductions and stronger social safety nets in the upcoming budget to ease the burden on households.
Nanayakkara warned that public anger towards the Government could increase significantly if adequate relief was not provided, noting that people were already facing severe economic difficulties.
He also observed that public expectations for Budget 2027 were particularly high, especially regarding measures to ease inflationary pressures, revise taxes and strengthen social welfare assistance.
Commenting on the political climate, the former minister said there was currently no significant active opposition to the Government among ordinary people.
He cautioned, however, that the absence of strong public resistance meant that the implications of certain laws and measures described as anti-democratic were not yet being widely felt, despite the potential threats they could pose to individual freedoms and democracy in the future.
The Sri Lanka Police have seized illegal narcotics valued at more than Rs. 249 billion during the three-year period covering 2024, 2025 and 2026 under the national “A Nation United” campaign, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler has revealed.
Providing details of the seizures, ASP Wootler said law enforcement authorities had confiscated 4,483 kilogrammes of heroin valued at Rs. 107.942 billion and 7,129 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, worth Rs. 121.644 billion.
The seizures also included 33,277 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at Rs. 5.293 billion, and 333 kilogrammes of cocaine worth Rs. 14.306 billion.
According to the Police Media Spokesperson, strict legal penalties are in place under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act No. 13 of 1984 and its Amendment Act No. 41 of 2022 to combat drug-related offences.
He emphasised that anyone found in possession of, attempting to possess, trafficking, dealing in or manufacturing more than five grammes of heroin, Ice or cocaine faces severe penalties.
Upon conviction by the High Court, offenders could face life imprisonment or the death penalty, he said.
