Sri Lanka’s renewed war on narcotics is entering a tougher phase, with the Government considering the death penalty for drug-related offences while simultaneously seeking to strengthen investigations, prosecutions, rehabilitation and prison management.
The proposal was discussed at the “Ratama Ekata” National Operations Council meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The meeting considered the impact of narcotics and related crime on the economy, tourism and society, underlining the Government’s view that the drug trade has become a wider national security and social problem.
However, the central question is whether tougher punishment alone can dismantle a drug market that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt.
Sri Lanka has already intensified enforcement. During a nationwide anti-drug operation conducted between October 30 and November 20, 2025, police reported 23,891 arrests. The operation included 8,087 raids involving heroin and 8,644 involving crystal methamphetamine. More than 638 people were referred for rehabilitation.
Police also seized 133.9 kilograms of heroin, 650.88 kilograms of Ice and more than 553 kilograms of cannabis during the operation. The figures demonstrate the scale of enforcement, but they also raise a fundamental question: are rising arrest figures evidence of success, or evidence that the drug market remains deeply entrenched?
The distinction between drug offenders and drug-dependent persons is particularly important. Arrest statistics cannot be used to determine the number of people addicted to drugs. According to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, 3,140 people received treatment for drug-use disorders in 2024. That figure represents people who entered treatment and should not be interpreted as the total number of drug-dependent persons in the country.
The Government’s decision to classify seized narcotics according to quantities, including below five grams and 10 grams, could therefore become an important reform. A clearer classification system could help investigators and courts distinguish between minor possession, personal use and organised trafficking.
Another major problem is the delay in forensic evidence. Officials reported that 6,414 Government Analyst reports were issued in July. The Government is also considering measures to increase the capacity of the Government Analyst’s Department and improve coordination between analysts, police and prisons.
Faster forensic reporting could reduce delays in drug cases and help courts reach decisions more quickly.
But the proposed death penalty represents a much more severe approach. It may increase the risks faced by convicted traffickers, but the effectiveness of the policy will ultimately depend on whether investigators can reach the financiers, organisers and international networks behind the trade.
Sri Lanka’s drug problem cannot be defeated through arrests alone. A successful strategy must combine intelligence-led policing, financial investigations, stronger border and maritime surveillance, faster prosecutions, rehabilitation and prevention.
The Government’s challenge is therefore not simply to punish more people. It is to dismantle the networks that profit from narcotics while helping those trapped by addiction to leave the drug market behind.