‘International actors must come together, to combat world drug
problem’
Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayaka
led the Sri Lanka delegation at the UN General Assembly Special Session
(UNGASS) on ‘World Drug Problem’, which was in Session from April 19 to
21, 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
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Sagala Ratnayaka addressing
the UN General Assembly Special Session |
This Session was a milestone in achieving the goals set in the policy
document of 2009 “Political Declaration and Plan of Action on
International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to
Counter the World Drug Problem”, which defined action to be taken by
Member States as well as goals to be achieved by 2019.
Minister Ratnayaka addressed the UN General Assembly and highlighted
the need for all international actors to come together to combat the
world drug problem. He also briefed the Assembly on the steps that Sri
Lanka has taken in its national capacity to address this issue.
Minister Ratnayaka was also a lead speaker in a side event organised
by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled ‘Listen
First’ and spoke on the subject of Preventive Education and Training in
Sri Lanka: Substance Use Prevention, Education and Training Targeting
Children and Adolescents. Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, Executive
Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and
Director-General of World Health Organization were among other speakers
of this event.
Prof. Ravindra Fernando, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs
Control Board of Sri LankaCo-Chaired the Round Table discussion of the
UNGASS on Demand reduction and related measures, including prevention
and treatment.
In addition, Minister Ratnayaka held discussions with Minister of
Finance of India Sri Arun Jaitley, K. Shanmugam, Minister of Interior
and Narcotics Control of Pakistan Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and , Minister
of Counter Narcotics, Afghanistan Salamat Azimi.
Dr. Rohan Perera, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission
of Sri Lanka to the UN and Prof. Ravindra Fernando, Chairman of the
National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. He also accompanied Minister
Ratnayaka at the bilareral meetings. We publish below the statement in
full
“The government will adopt a broader approach to drug abuse control
within the context of human development, focusing particularly on the
links between drug abuse, poverty reduction, crime prevention and
improving health” said Minister of Law and Order and Southern
Development Sagala Ratnayaka in a statement at the UN Special Session on
the World Drug Problem. He stressed the need to reduce the drug supply
and drug use to minimum levels by 2020.
He said, “At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this
Special Session dedicated to one of the most relevant contemporary
issues,the ‘world drug problem’.
“The Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is
conscious of the illicit production, trafficking and abuse of drugs in
the country; adverse effects of drug use on health of drug dependents;
the upsurge in drug related crime; the draining of human, natural and
financial resources and the destruction of individuals, families and
communities due to drug use,” he said.
“Further, the government is fully conscious of its international
obligations, particularly those stemming from the Single Convention on
Narcotics Drugs 1961, Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, and
United Nations Convention Against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances 1988 ratified by the government. Sri Lanka
also steered the negotiations on the SAARC Regional Convention on
narcotic Drugs and Psychtropic Drugs and Substances and is a party to
the SAARC Convention,” he said.
Political will and determination
“The Government reaffirms its political will and determination to
tackle the drug problem locally and assist in this cause internationally
by reviewing the existing National Policy, which was formulated more
than a decade ago. All institutions that come under government purview
will be required to adhere to this national policy.
“The overall goal of the government in relation to the drug problem
is an ambitious one, to reduce the drug supply and drug use to minimum
levels by 2020.This goal will be pursued relentlessly by all drug law
enforcement agencies, the government agencies directly involved in drug
demand reduction, including provincial and local administrations and
other agencies, which have a potential for contributing to the end
objective and NGOs and private sector agencies,” he said.
“The government will adopt a broader approach to drug abuse control
within the context of human development, focusing particularly on the
links between drug abuse, poverty reduction, crime prevention and
improving health”he said.
“Government institutions, NGOs, private sector and other agencies
will be involved in implementing drug control strategies which comprise:
*Effective enforcement of law against production, smuggling,
trafficking, sale and use of illicit drugs.
*Effective enforcement of controlled imports, exports, distribution of
drugs and precursor chemicals under control
*Preventing the use of drugs and reducing the adverse consequences of
drug abuse, and
*Supporting regional and international initiatives related to drug
abuse, prevention and control.
Precursor Control Authority
“The Precursor Control Authority of Sri Lanka controls 23 identified
precursor chemicals, which make an immense contribution to the economic
development.
It prevents illegitimate production of psychotropic substances from
these chemicals. Precursor Control Authority monitors the import,
transport, distribution, storage and use of precursor chemicals and
supervise the premises where such activities are performed.
In addition, our concern has extended to reducing abuse of prescribed
drugs or over the counter medication.
This has been identified as an emerging issue.
Sri Lanka government’s determination in law enforcement is
highlighted recently by the detection of 110 kilograms of heroin
trafficked by sea where nationals from several countries were involved,”
he said.
“The GoSL has taken initial steps to establish “A Center for Sharing
Intelligence on Drug Trafficking” to empower national institutions for
accurate information dissemination in South Asian and South East Asian
regions.
Further, the GoSLprovides treatment and rehabilitation services to
those who abuse drugs using accepted screening and assessment
methodologies implemented by the government, non-governmental and
private institutions in the country. We have adopted the requisite
legislation on treatment of drug offenders which, inter-alia, empowers
our judicial authorities to prescribe treatment to offenders in State or
recognized private institutions, in lieu of punishment,” he said.
“GoSL works towards its determination of reducing and total
elimination of substances with the effective analysis of social and
scientific researches on narcotics and psychotropic substances, based on
evidence based practices. Outreach services, aftercare and
rehabilitation services necessarily effective for all treatment
interventions are provided throughout the country, especially focusing
on clients, who are away from residential treatment programs.
Sri Lanka highlights the need of using medical and psychological
treatment, ensuring the welfare of specially identified social groups
such as children, women and youth who are affected by the negative
consequences of substance abuse.
In conclusion Mr. President, I wish to assure you that Sri Lanka
stands committed to extend our fullest cooperation to all international
efforts to combat the world drug problem, a problem which has no
boarders, which threatens to destabilize all our societies,” he said.
Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka, Minister of Law and Order and Southern
Development addresses the Special Session of the United Nations General
Assembly on the ‘World Drug Problem’ |