Cigarette mafia responsible for ousting me - Ex -NDDCB chairman

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Dr. Chamira Nilanga Samarasinghe will go down in the annals of history as being the first government official who worked openly against narcotic dealers as Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) at the risk of his life and now has paid the 'penalty' and removed from his post, post haste.

Politicians of all hues and other powerful figures in society were rattled by the innovative approach to narcotics control initiated by Dr. Samarasinghe during a brief 10-month in office facing a grave risk to his life. Despite the challenging tasks faced by the NDDCB Chairman, the media reported the government's decision to remove him from his post on November 18.

In a hard-hitting interview with the Sunday Observer, Dr.Samarasinghe said he wanted to do something for the country. He categorically said that he had no issues with the government. "This was a problem between the NDDCB and the Presidential Task Force on Narcotics. I had the blessings of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet but a few people in the Narcotics Unit of the Presidential Secretariat wanted me out," he said.

Dr.Samarasinghe said except for the decision taken by some high officials to remove him from the post, the nation was with him and appreciated the undaunting task fulfilled by him. "I had plans to seek international cooperation to control drug trafficking. During my 10-months in office, even the private sector presented over Rs.30 million in assets to the NDDCB.

Unfortunately, Sri Lanka was not fortunate to get my services.

I reached this position with the blessings of the public, do things in the interest of the public. I still don't know the reason for my removal," he said.

Life at risk

When Dr. Samarasinghe was the chairman of the NDDCB, DIG Sirisena Herath was also appointed as chairman on November 5. A couple of hours later, his letter of appointment was withdrawn and Prof. Ravindra Fernando was appointed as the new chairman of the NDDCB.

Samarasinghe said that his life was at risk as his security had been withdrawn in a couple of hours after he was removed from office. I can't understand as to how my security was withdrawn no sooner I was removed from office.

The government provided security as it knew that there was a threat to my life. I didn't seek this post nor did I run after anybody for it. I have proved my capabilities and have proved that I can work in any field, not merely in the narcotics field. By changing a government, results cannot be achieved. A mechanism to implement plans should also be put in place," he said.

"During my tenure as NDDCB chairman, I forwarded many project proposals which were workable and I was determined to implement them.

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time for this. I can't cling on to a post by running after politicians and other government officials. In my case, the government failed to provide me with the mechanism to do my work and it was not due to a failure on my part. This is similar to the previous government appointing senior ministers and not giving them any work.

I don't want to remain in a post like this. After the August 18 General Election, a national government was formed and President Maithripala Sirisena and top officials absorbed parliamentarians of the former government to it. They may have taken a cue from South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and the new South African government gave them time to rectify their omissions.

The President too must have thought on similar lines. Some politicians were unable to get nomination because of my initiative against them. If these politicians resort to such unlawful practices, the President will take stern action against them as promised.

Continue

If the President and the Prime Minister needs my services I am ready to do so. There is a problem regarding child protection. As a doctor and civil society activist, I can do much to protect children.

If we want to develop the country within the next ten years, we should provide immediate solutions to the pressing problems. If things move in this manner we will never be a 'Wonder of Asia.," he said.

Samarasinghe said the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet wanted him to continue in office. The Cabinet unanimously decided that I should remain in my capacity as chairman. However, those who lost the battle to remove me then hatched a conspiracy and ousted me.

There are some 'powerful' people in the Presidential Secretariat who attempt to dictate terms to the government. I think the President was also aware that I was to be removed. I reached that position as I was a member of the Movement for Justice. At present there is nobody to shield me. A new chairman has been appointed to the NDDCB by the Prime Minister.

Cigarettes

In the meantime, the price of liquor was increased in the budget but not that of cigarettes. Cigarettes companies are powerful business people in this country. "We insisted that the price of a packet of cigarettes should be increased by Rs.45.

If this was done, the government could earn an additional revenue of Rs 45 billion, which is five times the budget allocation for education. But the government has not done it. Cigarette consumption would have reduced gradually and cigarette companies would have lost their market. If I was the NDDCB chairman, I would have definitely asked the President and the government to increase the price of cigarettes. This is why they wanted me out," he said.

Dr. Samarasinghe said they jointly worked for the victory of the President in the Gampaha district. After the President assumed office, a Presidential Narcotics Unit was set up at the Presidential Secretariat under the purview of a director. This led to a tussle between the Presidential Narcotics Unit and the NDDCB.

The NDDCB has a well-organised structure throughout the country to work against narcotics. From time to time, former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena set up special units at the Presidential Secretariat including a separate unit for narcotics. Those working in the narcotic unit are the same people who were in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's narcotics unit as well. This is an absolute joke and I conveyed the situation to the President.

As we all know, former President Rajapaksa's 'Mathata thitha' program was a failure. If that project had worked, he would have remained as President. Some people who receive money from international organisations also work in this Presidential Narcotics Unit," he said.