Tamil MP highlights surge in drug trafficking, questions military complicity
Vanni District Member of Parliament Thurairasa Ravikaran has criticised the alarming rise in drug circulation across Sri Lanka, particularly in the North-East, stating that narcotics were virtually nonexistent during the LTTE era.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on February 28, Ravikaran urged the Ministry of Public Security to take immediate action to curb the spread of illicit drugs and protect the well-being of the people.
“We fully welcome the new government’s initiative to implement the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project,” he stated. “However, drug usage has now spread rampantly across every part of the country, causing the nation to reel under the devastating impact of rising drug consumption and trafficking.”
Ravikaran noted that before the end of the armed conflict in 2009, such rampant drug circulation was unheard of in the North-East. He emphasised that under the LTTE’s administration, drug consumption was strictly controlled, whereas now, the situation has spiralled out of control.
“As someone hailing from Mullaitivu District and representing the Vanni electoral region, I can attest to the dire situation in Vanni,” he warned.
He highlighted how dangerous substances, including illicit liquor, cannabis, crystal meth (ice), heroin, and other narcotics, are now freely available in abundance.
Ravikaran questioned why drug usage was thriving despite the heavy military presence in Mullaitivu, an area that remains one of the most militarised regions in the world. “Statistics indicate a heavy military presence in Mullaitivu. And yet, despite this, drug usage is rampant in these areas,” he said.
He challenged the government’s security apparatus, asking why the armed forces, which claim to maintain public safety, had failed to address the growing drug crisis. His remarks reflect long-standing allegations that sections of Sri Lanka’s military and security forces have been complicit in the drug trade, allowing narcotics to infiltrate Tamil areas as a means of social destruction and control.