Colombo: The Sri Lankan government will launch a nationwide campaign to eradicate the illicit drug menace, a senior minister announced yesterday. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, emphasized the need for this campaign due to the direct link between organized crime and narcotics, and the alarming increase in drug addiction among children.

According to Nam News Network,Wijepala highlighted that 72 percent of inmates in Sri Lankan prisons are serving time for drug-related offenses. He further revealed a concerning trend within law enforcement, stating that between 15 and 20 percent of newly recruited police officers are addicted to drugs. As a consequence of this issue, 68 officers have been suspended from duty since January.