President warns stern action against drug-trafficking politicians

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday promised to take stern action against the politicians who involved in the drug trade irrespective of their political status or back ground.

Emphasizing that it is not possible to minimize the use of narcotics if all politicians did not refrain from engaging in the illegal narcotics racket, the President warned the politicians, who are involved or get involved in the illegal narcotics menace, every possible legal step will be initiated against them regardless of political and status differences.

“If any politician is currently engaged in illegal drug dealings or if they will do so in the future, I would take every legal action against them, irrespective of their party, color or social level,” the President emphasized.

Speaking at the launch of National Narcotics Prevention Month and the national drug prevention program, the President said under the national program to eradicate drug menace the government will formulate laws to control and uproot drug related activities.

The inaugural function of the Narcotic Prevention Month was held Thursday morning at the Ja-Ela Urban Council grounds with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Narcotics Prevention Month which commenced today will continue until the 08th of next month.

During the month various programs will be launched under the theme “A country free from narcotics” with the involvement of several state institutions. Special attention will be focused on enlightening the public about the adverse effects of narcotics.

Speaking further, the President acknowledged that controlling the sale of drugs which are legal, will have an impact on the national economy. He said he was concerned of such a situation and the situation therefore should be changed by formulating new laws.

Pointing out that the number of deaths caused due to narcotics-related diseases was high, the President said the compromises need to be made when the income to the government has to be considered.

He explained that the controlling the legal drugs would impact the revenues to the government but the Government has to incur high expenditure on treating the people affected by the drug related sicknesses. He questioned whether the life of a person can be compared with the issues the Government would be facing with regard to its income due to the control of drugs.

The President said relying on the excise taxes for the government’s income during last decades has caused severe damage to the public in different fronts.

He pointed out the opinion that the budget is totally depends on the excise revenue and the budget cannot be completed without excise income has taken the country to a national catastrophe. “Therefore, I will strengthen the treasury revenue without the excise income, deeming it as a responsibility of the government,” he said.

He added that the government plans to remove the income from excise taxes by 2020 as the government targets to build the country free from drugs up to the year 2020.

“It is my earnest expectation to remove excise revenue from the alcohol and tobacco sales from the national budget by 2020,” said President Maithripala Sirisena.

Therefore, it is compulsory to keep the politicians away from the illegal drug trafficking, the President reiterated.

The assistance of every person is expected to implement the National program to eradicate the drug menace while strengthening the existing laws relating to the prevention of drug smuggling, the President said.

The President urged the Maha Sangha and all other religious dignitaries to support the government measures to make the drug control a success. The assistance of the NGOs and the private sector will also be sought in this regard, he said.

President Sirisena said that a program will be implemented by the Ministry of Education with the support of school children to convey the message of drug prevention to the society.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner General of Excise said that in connection with the Narcotic Prevention Month all liquor shops throughout the country will be kept closed Friday 10 July.