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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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Ministry conceives coast guards by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The Public Security and Law and Order Ministry is examining the possibility of setting up a Coast Guard Service to protect its coastal areas from drugs and arms smugglers who often use shores for unlawful activities, the Secretary, Ministry of Public Security and Law and Order Tilak Ranavirajah said addressing a media conference in connection with the International Drug Day in Colombo. Several officials from the National Dangerous Drug Control Board and the Customs were present on the occasion. Although the Secretary did not spell out the nitty gritty details of the proposed Coast Guard Service he said such a service would help authorities to monitor and mount a surveillance on drug smugglers who often use sea routes to smuggle in heroin. At present vessels belonging to the Sri Lanka Navy patrol the shores of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile it was reported that a Coast Guard ship belonging to United States of America has already been donated to the Sri Lanka government. The boat is presently undergoing modifications in the USA to suit local conditions before it is handed over, the report said. Asst. Director of Customs (Narcotics Division) Dharma Kahandawa said it was an impossible task to inspect, manually, 10,000 containers arriving in Sri Lanka in the absence of an X-ray detecting equipment. Customs usually conduct random checks on containers for heroin and other contraband. "There would be protests from business community if we inspect each and every container because of the delay involved". He said a few containers arrive from Pakistan and India and the possibility of heroin being in them is rather remote. "We exchange intelligence with Indian authorities every three months on heroin trafficking," Kahandawa said. Secretary Ranavirajah said his Ministry was looking at the idea of setting up an X-ray detecting equipment. Speaking on crime he said there was a four fold increase of sexually related crimes like rape and molestation of children due to consumption of dangerous drugs and liquor and also being exposed to obscene films in Sri Lanka. There were about 45,000 people mostly poor workers who are addicted to drugs and who spend around Rs. 250 daily to purchase drugs. More than 60 kg of drugs and 5.6 million litres of alcohol (excluding illicit alcohol) are being consumed daily and the government spends a lot to treat drug addicts in State hospitals, he said. Statistics show that 23,000 persons were arrested last year for drug related offences of which 10,000 have been convicted. Forty-five percent of prisoners at Welikade and Boossa have been convicted for drug related offences. |
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