It is important to highlight that the Government of Sri Lanka was able to successfully conclude the counter-insurgency operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the year 2009 after three decades. However, it was evident that the LTTE had brought the majority of weapons to the country via sea route to develop as the strongest terrorist organisation. Subsequently, it was observed that a significant increase in illegal drugs and narcotic items apprehended in Sri Lankan waters including inland areas since the year 2009, had created significant threats to national security under almost all elements of national security. For instance, now the country has had to counter illegal drugs and narcotics consumption, dealing, transits through the country and landing taking place in Sri Lanka in the way the country faced the counter-insurgency operation with the LTTE. Importantly, the unique and strategic location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean has made it vulnerable, due to the country’s centralised location between the famous Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent. In particular, the “Golden Triangle” and “Golden Crescent” are two prominent regions in Asia that are notorious for producing illegal opium. The former focuses mainly on Southeast Asia, while the latter focuses on South and Central Asia. The above chart indicates the centralised location of SL between Asia’s busy and deadly drug route, “Golden Triangle” and “Golden Crescent.”
Furthermore, there is information revealing that Sri Lanka is a drug trafficking hub. Moreover, the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) along with other stakeholders has apprehended mainly inbound illegal drugs and narcotics rather than outbound transfers, continuously in the last few years. More specifically, even though there is a continuous apprehending of illegal drugs and narcotics out at sea, it is believed that the quantity is not for consumption in Sri Lanka. However, due to illegal drug trafficking taking place in Sri Lanka, drug dealers and drug-addicted people, directly and indirectly, involving culprits for illegal drugs and narcotics marketing in the country have already created numerous challenges for national security in many aspects including health security, economic security, social security, human security, political security and cultural security. On the other hand, since the drug trafficking network is transnational in nature with strong connectivity, countering actions become more challenging to the Government authorities.
It is important to note that writing to the Daily Mirror on 12 March 2025, Indika Sri Aravinda has indicated concern over the rising rate of drug addiction among Sri Lanka’s youth which has grown, according to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB). In particular, the newspaper has emphasised that around 150 different kinds of pharmaceuticals are being used as alternatives to illegal substances, according to specialist Dr. Indika Wanninayake, who also noted that the use of prescription medications is increasing. Also, it has been highlighted that addicts are increasingly abusing these drugs, which include painkillers recommended for cancer patients and other illnesses. It is significant to pay attention to Dr. Wanninayake’s claims that the problem of addiction is not just affecting adults, as many schoolchildren and young people, especially those between the ages of 15 and 17, are abusing drugs. Furthermore, according to a 2019 survey, there were between 92,000 and 100,000 drug addicts in the nation, with 35,000 addicted to heroin and another 35,000 to cannabis. On the other hand, as per the records authorities have arrested 162,000 people for drug-related offences in 2024.
Indeed, this is a very alarming situation for the country which requires to pay much more attention collectively by all related stakeholders with the help of State and non-State actors who are willing to assist counter this devastating transnational crime. For instance, gaining knowledge about drug issues in other nations can help us better understand our drug policies and solutions. Recognising that drug usage is a worldwide problem and that effective international cooperation is required to fight it is also crucial. Importantly, understanding the extent of drug usage in other nations can also aid in the fight against drug availability and trafficking, as drug production and trafficking frequently have worldwide ties. On the other hand, substance misuse and drug use present serious problems for entire economies as well as for people and families. Substance abuse has an impact on public safety, healthcare systems, and national production in addition to personal health. Furthermore, numerous health issues, such as overdoses, infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV, and mental health disorders, are brought on by drugs and substance addiction. Moreover, drug-related occurrences result in expensive ER visits and hospital stays that put a heavy burden on healthcare resources. Furthermore, a productive workforce is essential to a country’s economic health, but drug and substance addiction undermines this basis. Also, public resources are additionally taxed by the intimate connection between drugs and substance misuse and criminal activity.
In addition, substance misuse and drug addiction causes social unrest and poverty by upsetting families and communities. For instance, children from substance-abusing households are more likely to need foster care and other social services, which drives up Government spending. In particular, it has been identified that prevention or countering narcotic supply and consummation in the country must be addressed at three different levels such as strategic level, operational level and tactical level to remove the root causes of supplying and consumption of illegal drugs and narcotics in the country. More specifically, the strategic level and operational level effective approach is mandatory to remove the root causes of drug trafficking. For example, when the US Coast Guard discovered an illegal shipment of drugs while conducting a flag verification boarding in accordance with customary international law the confiscated drugs were destroyed at sea by US forces. Likewise, strategic level approach recommendations include revising the existing law of the country to destroy apprehended narcotics at sea in the same location, rather than conveying all of them into the country for further legal proceedings because there is a tendency to theft when stored for a long period during legal proceedings. It is important to highlight that, on 25 January 2022 the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka highlighted that new laws would be introduced to destroy illegal drug hauls in front of a judicial officer immediately after seizure while retaining a sample for legal proceedings which should be materialised as earliest possible. In contrast, when observing law and order violations by some members of the law enforcement agencies in the country, the storing of apprehended or seized drugs and illegal narcotics may cause unauthorised disclosure of them partially or in full quantity misleading related stakeholders. Furthermore, destroying them on sight rather than escorting them to the country is important to avoid unauthorised disclosure of them. More specifically, the drugs and illegal narcotics market is a huge business which deals with significant amounts of black money while mainly non-State actors are directly engaged in a transnational nature. For instance, genuine, effective and efficient actions, counter-counter actions and counter-counter-counter actions must be taken by the Government of Sri Lanka at strategic and operational levels to mitigate this national disaster. On the one hand, strong strategic level decision-making is required to immediately address the rising threat of addicting the country’s population to illegal narcotics and drugs directly and directly affecting the country’s national security in many ways. More specifically, revising the existing law of the country to speed up and strengthen the punishments for accused persons, making deterrence and tangible psychological impact for culprits engaged with narcotic supply mandatory.
Moreover, establishing of a separate court system, particularly for finished court cases related to illegal narcotic and drug cases must be initiated as soon as possible. Also, some strategic-level approach initiatives must be taken to further enhance international collaboration with State actors and non-State actors to counter illegal drug trafficking. On the one hand, it is required to address on a strategic level to understand why Sri Lanka has been named a drug trafficking hub and what is the mode of outbound transfer of illegal drugs from Sri Lanka. For instance, there are many cases where authorities have seized inbound illegal drugs and narcotics to Sri Lanka via sea routes and through airports as well. However, there are fewer incidents that have been reported regarding the apprehending of outbound movements through SL, even though it is believed that all apprehending of such big quantities are not for consumption in the country.
Indeed, significant attention must be paid to understanding this movement, because a considerable amount of illegal drugs can penetrate SL drug dealers during the transits if it takes place through the country. A classic example is in 2019, the United States launched The Department of Defence’s responsibility in mitigating the enduring, low-intensity, yet high-impact dangers posed by drug trafficking and other illicit networks to lessen their threat to American national security is delineated in the Framework to Counter Drug Trafficking and Other Illicit Threat Networks. Moreover, priority was given to a variety of functional and regional concerns, such as the persistent problems posed by illegal drug trafficking, other types of transnational organised crimes, and transnational terrorism funded by illegal means, which are addressed under the Framework to Counter Drug Trafficking and Other Illicit Threat Networks.
More importantly, likewise, the Government of Sri Lanka also must immediately develop a firm framework for countering drug trafficking and other illicit threat networks collaborative with all responsible stakeholders since it is at present directly threatening the country’s national security in many ways. On the other hand, the Philippines is also another country that suffered heavily due to illicit drug trafficking. However, the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), which outlines the Government’s plans and initiatives to combat the nation’s drug usage issue, was created in recognition of the necessity to present a thorough and equitable strategy for reducing drug demand and supply. It is important to highlight that, it is in line with the President’s priorities and is based on the Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022’s sub-goal of ensuring security, public order, and safety, which states that the national anti-illegal drug strategy consists of reducing consumer demand for drugs and other substances through drug rehabilitation and extensive preventive education and awareness programmes, as well as suppressing the flow of illegal drug supply through persistent law enforcement operations. Likewise, it is high time for the Government of Sri Lanka to develop such a kind of firm strategy with a vision and mission to counter illegal drugs and narcotic supply to the country.
Likewise, at the operational level, approaches should include the enhancement of conducting of joint operations and empowering maritime domain awareness with the collaboration of inter and intra-regional countries that are capable of conducting maritime-air surveillance including providing real-time satellite imageries. Furthermore, conducting joint maritime patrols and maritime-air patrols with inter and intra-regional countries become handy to combatting illegal drug and narcotic trafficking. Moreover, sharing of intelligence, obtaining technological support for dark vessel monitoring, and tracing of illegal drugs and narcotics arriving tracks to SL with sound intelligence sharing is essential to conduct. In addition, real-time satellite imagery will wisely help the respective authorities cover the vast maritime domain of the country. Furthermore, a drive-through system called the container X-ray Scanning Portal is used to check containers at ports for weapons, explosives, and contraband and to confirm that the contents match manifests. For instance, by scanning up to 150×40 containers each hour, the device can reduce delays and bottlenecks in inspections. Further, the “Total Scan Option,” which is perfect for scanning entire vehicles at border crossings, allows the safe scanning of the truck cabin and large box vans with a safe low dose.
More specifically, it is required to introduce such container X-Ray Scanning Portal to the SLPA and even for expressway entrances in the country to enhance the drug trafficking operations effectively. In contrast, at the operational level, suitable actions must be initiated by the related stakeholders to avoid prisons becoming safe houses for suspects dealing with illegal drugs and narcotics supply. For instance, there are many cases reported of operating mobile phones by major suspects while they are in prison, as well as the support of the prison officers to those dealers in prisons providing them with mobile phones. Importantly, it is mandatory to isolate those dealers without giving them any opportunity to operate mobile phones or satellite communication. Subsequently, it is required to introduce a sound mechanism to identify responsible officials as well as stakeholders who are dealing with and supporting illegal drugs and narcotics smugglers. For instance, monitoring sudden financial growth, including the monitoring of mobile phones and movement can be initiated as a primary practice for identifying those officials. More importantly, sound and remedial legal actions with strong punishments must be taken against such culprits without considering their positions such as those serving as responsible authorities and supporting drug smugglers. According to the media, the Commissioner General of Prisons, Thushara Upuldeniya, formally declared the Boossa Prison to be a High-Security Prison on 18 October 2020. However, even though mobile jammers are fitted with the high-security prison in Boossa, mobile phones have been found more often. It can be assumed that, without the support of prison officers, those phones cannot be operated inside the prison or they can’t fall into the hands of the accused without the support of prison officers. With that background, even though Boossa prison has been categorised as a high-security prison, it has become a safe house for even drug dealers under custody in the prison. For instance, as reported by the media, the Police Special Task Force (STF) has recovered several devices, including a mobile phone, from a cell holding special category inmates at the Boossa High-Security Prison even during February 2025, and the STF stated that these items were hidden in Cell 83 of Section D of the prison.
It is important to highlight that, in the Philippines, the Anti-Drug Strategy is seen as an endeavour to reduce the supply of drugs through vigorous law enforcement and prosecution, strict respect for the rule of law, and human rights compliance, as well as extensive demand reduction programmes backed by solid international links. Importantly, the Government of Sri Lanka can implement the same in Sri Lanka as well with the support of related stakeholders to safeguard operational level functions are assured. Finally, it is understood that without sound implementation in an operational level approach strategic or tactical level cannot be a success like the doubtful “YUKTHIYA” operation conducted by Sri Lanka Police in the past.
Commander (H) Bhanu Abeygunawardena is a Military Research Officer at the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), the premier think tank on National Security established and functioning under the Ministry of Defence. The opinions expressed are his own and not necessarily reflective of the Institute or the Ministry of Defence.