Sri Lanka considers death penalty for drug offences

The Sri Lankan government is considering the introduction of the death penalty for certain narcotics offences as part of an intensified anti-narcotics campaign. During a meeting of the ‘Ratama Ekata’ National Operations Council chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, officials identified the narcotics trade as a significant threat to the nation’s economic stability, tourism sector, and social wellbeing, noting its link to organized crime and illicit money circulation.

Legal reforms are currently being finalized, with proposed amendments regarding narcotics offences and bail expected to be published in the Government Gazette before being submitted to Parliament. To address judicial delays, the President directed the development of a system to classify cases based on the quantity of drugs seized, specifically including categories for amounts under five and ten grams.

Authorities also reported improvements in the processing of forensic evidence, with 6,414 Government Analyst reports completed in July. The President called for enhanced coordination between the Government Analyst’s Department, the police, and the Prisons Department, while also requesting financial allocations to expand surveillance camera coverage and increase the capacity of forensic facilities.