28. March 2011

 

 

Sri Lanka Statement

Delivered by Mr. Satya Rodrigo, Minister Counsellor

At the 54th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Vienna: 21-25 March 2011

 

Item 4: Implementation of the international drug control treaties

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

At the outset, on behalf of my delegation let me express, through the Japanese delegation to the Government and people of Japan our sincere condolences and profound sadness, over the tragic loss of lives and properties caused by the recent catastrophic disaster in Japan. We hope the people of Japan will be able to recover quickly from this tragedy.

 

Madam Chairperson, please also allow me to extend our congratulations on your assumption of Chairmanship of the 54th Session of the CND and assure you of my delegation’s fullest cooperation in your task ahead. My delegation would also like to congratulate other members of the Bureau and take the opportunity to thank the Secretariat for its hard work, including preparing supporting documents for this session.

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

Sri Lanka, being a party to all three international drug control conventions and the protocol currently in force, has given necessary legal effects in our drug law enforcement efforts at the domestic level. The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), as the premier policy planning body, coordinates and cooperates closely with other domestic, regional and international drug control bodies, especially with the INCB to effectively discharge its duties in tackling the illicit drugs entering into and moving through the country. The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), the Customs and Excise Department play important roles in controlling and countering the trafficking of narcotic drugs and precursor substances and complement the work of the Drugs Control Board.

 

 

The NDDCB, under the guidance of present Minister in-charge of the subject, H.E. the President, has enacted Act No. 1 of 2008 to bring in a control regime for the importation, storage, distribution and use of precursor chemicals. The subsequent setting up of the Precursor Control Authority (PCA) in October 2010 under this act, with representation of the Dangerous Drugs Control Board and all other stakeholders has also improved the control and supervision of the use of these chemicals and combat misuse of them to produce illegal drugs and liquor.

 

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

Let me express our sincere appreciation for the INCB Report - 2010 for its outstanding quality and the supplementary reports. The data collected at the domestic level over the last five years on the seizures of drugs and related arrests highlights the importance of Sri Lanka to be vigilant against the trafficking of narcotic drugs and controlled substances. Sri Lanka authorities have also taken action to share this information with the INCB through regular submission of relevant reports.

 

As Sri Lanka’s coast remain vulnerable to transshipment of narcotics drugs moving from the South Asian and South-East Asian region, action against the use of the country as a transshipment point is high priority. Towards this objective, Sri Lanka has established a Coast Guard Department which has become operational since February 2010. The new Coast Guard Unit has tremendously strengthened Sri Lanka’s efforts in combating the smuggling of drugs into the country through our territorial waters. The recent increase in the recruitment of PNB officers and deployment of field officers in strategic locations along the coastal belts where drug trafficking is active, has contributed to increased interdictions and investigations.

 

In Sri Lanka, trafficking of heroin, cannabis and psychotropic substances are primarily reported and the criminal networks in drug trafficking with links to other organized crimes have been clearly established. In this respect, the remnants of LTTE, a banned terrorist organization in over 32 countries, with its outside criminal networks continues to engage in bulk delivery of narcotic drugs from producing areas in Asia to consuming countries. The proceeds obtained through drug trafficking, related money laundering and other organized crimes are being used to finance its criminal activities.

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

On the demand and availability of drugs for medical purposes, Sri Lanka’s campaign for complete abstinence remains a cornerstone of our national policy.  In addition, the Drug Dependant Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act is a piece of legislation introduced recently towards realization of our State policy, which allows treatment and rehabilitation and drug dependents based on the level of dependency and treating addicts as patients as opposed to offenders for effective rehabilitation and to decriminalize the drug abuser and safeguard their rights. Meanwhile, other drug prevention programmes in line with this objective have seen tremendous improvement in the country due to the ongoing awareness campaigns.

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

Sri Lanka continues to work closely through regional cooperation to address this drug problem. Sri Lanka is a party to the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances that seeks to reinforce and supplement the relevant international conventions at the regional level and promote regional cooperation among member states with provisions for extradition, mutual legal assistance in investigations, prosecution and judicial proceedings and exchange of information in respect of drug offences through a regional mechanism. Further, under Sri Lanka’s chairmanship, the SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was also finalized and signed recently with the Convention’s article 13 that operates to extend mutual cooperation to seize or confiscate funds collected from the organized criminal acts including trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and other chemical materials.

 

Madam Chairperson,

 

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that Sri Lanka will continue to support the collective international efforts through effective implementation of the international drug control treaties to address the world drug threat and related organized crimes. In this regard, we look forward to further strengthen cooperation with the UNODC, INCB and other international and regional partners.

 

I thank you for your attention.