Explosive revelations have emerged linking southern politicians to large-scale drug trafficking and illegal weapons, with Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala vowing that the law will be applied without political protection.
Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala confirmed that several critical findings have been uncovered in the government’s ongoing crackdown on organized crime and narcotics. He emphasized that the National People’s Power (NPP) government has made it a priority to dismantle drug cartels and sever political ties that shielded these activities for years.
According to the Minister, recent raids in Matara and Tangalle exposed the depth of the networks. Police seized nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) hidden in a small lorry, along with two unidentified bodies at the same location. A second raid led to the discovery of 400 kilograms of heroin and ice stashed inside a larger lorry, where officers also recovered five revolvers and a T-56 firearm.
Wijepala noted that law enforcement is seeing tangible results from these intensified efforts. At present, 15 organized criminals are being held in foreign prisons and are set to be deported back to Sri Lanka, while recent interrogations of underworld figures such as Kehelbadda Pathma have revealed crucial intelligence.
Perhaps most alarming, the Minister admitted that evidence points to the involvement of certain southern politicians and even officials in trafficking operations. He assured that these revelations would be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted without bias.
Explaining why these breakthroughs are happening now, Wijepala said the police and intelligence services had deteriorated under the previous political culture, where politicization weakened their effectiveness. The NPP government, he added, has worked to free law enforcement from political interference and restore the independence of intelligence operations.
The crackdown on drugs and firearms has already raised public confidence, but the allegations of political links to organized crime are expected to ignite intense debate across the country. With the government promising transparency and accountability, the coming weeks could see major legal and political consequences.
