By Asoka S. Seneviratne –

A Nation Long Betrayed — A Leader Determined to Deliver

For decades, Sri Lankans have heard the same promise from every new government — “We will eliminate the underworld and end the drug menace.” Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers of National Security, and Inspectors General of Police have all declared it with fanfare. Yet each time, words dissolved into empty rhetoric, while crime and drug networks flourished, and gun violence became part of daily life.

Law enforcement, weakened by corruption and political interference, could do little. Citizens lost faith — not in justice, but in those charged with delivering it. The social fabric frayed. Families feared for their children. Sacred spaces, including temples and schools, became vulnerable to criminal infiltration. Villages saw addiction and theft, even murders committed in pursuit of drugs.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has broken this cycle. From day one, he has acted decisively, making it clear that failure is not an option. Unlike predecessors, AKD’s campaign is structural, comprehensive, and unapologetically courageous. His mission is to dismantle decades of corruption, restore law and order, and protect the nation’s future.

The Roots of the Problem: A Nation Held Hostage by the Underworld

The underworld thrived not by strength alone, but through political patronage, corruption, and fear. For decades, criminal networks operated like a shadow state, deciding who was safe, who could do business, and who would be silenced. Successive governments arrived with promises of eradication, only to become hostage to the very forces they vowed to destroy.

President AKD’s approach is systemic, uncompromising, and long-term. He is not merely trimming branches but uprooting the disease itself. Guided by truth, accountability, and zero political interference, he has begun a moral and institutional reconstruction of Sri Lanka — confronting uncomfortable truths, challenging entrenched interests, and reclaiming the nation’s dignity.

Political Protection of Criminal Networks — The Incurable Disease in Sri Lanka’s Political Culture

One of the most destructive and deeply rooted cancers in Sri Lanka’s political system has been the unholy alliance between politics and organized crime. For decades, criminal networks flourished under the protection of politicians across successive governments — UNP/SJB,  SLFP, and SLPP  alike. These relationships were not occasional; they became a permanent and incurable disease in our political culture, eating away at the very foundations of good governance, justice, and democracy.

Drug traffickers, extortionists, and contract killers such as Gonawela Sunil, Soththi Uppali, Kalu Ajith, Dematagoda Kamal, Kosgoda Tharaka, Samayan, Beddegane Sanjeewa, and Juranpitiye Amare became household names, not because of the fear they created, but because of the political immunity they enjoyed. Ministers, MPs, and provincial leaders shielded them from arrest, manipulated investigations, and ensured they continued operating freely. The Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, recently exposed shocking ties between senior politicians and at least ten major organized crime syndicates, revealing just how deep the rot had gone.

President AKD faces one of the hardest battles in Sri Lanka’s modern history — to sever the decades-old nexus between politics and crime. His firm declaration that “no politician is untouchable” marks the beginning of a new era where accountability replaces arrogance, and public service replaces political protection. Already, independent investigations, asset seizures, and criminal prosecutions have begun to dismantle these networks that thrived under political blessing.

This fight is not merely about punishing criminals; it is about restoring the moral core of governance. President AKD’s unwavering stance sends a clear message — Sri Lanka will no longer be ruled by those who profit from corruption, crime, and human misery. If sustained, this could become the turning point in ending a decades-long curse, bringing back integrity to politics and justice to the people.

Corruption and Complicity Within Law Enforcement

Sri Lanka’s underworld thrived not only on violence and intimidation, but on deep-rooted corruption within the very institutions designed to protect the public. For decades, elements within the police, customs, and prison systems acted as silent partners to criminal networks — leaking sensitive information, facilitating drug smuggling, tampering with evidence, and protecting high-profile offenders from prosecution. Honest officers were often intimidated, sidelined, or pressured to turn a blind eye, creating a parallel system that shielded criminals from justice. This systemic corruption allowed underworld figures to operate with near-total impunity, emboldening them to expand their networks, traffic more drugs, and even infiltrate political and social structures.

President AKD has recognized that no anti-crime strategy can succeed without first cleansing these institutions from within. His administration has implemented comprehensive reforms, including independent monitoring bodies, rigorous disciplinary mechanisms, and transparent accountability procedures across law enforcement agencies. These measures are designed to root out corruption, ensure professionalism, and restore public confidence in the nation’s security apparatus. Officers are being trained and empowered to act independently, without fear or political interference, reinforcing the principle that justice is not negotiable.

By dismantling this internal support network for crime, AKD is tackling a key enabler of the underworld. Every corrupt official removed, every compromised investigation corrected, and every criminal exposed demonstrates that the state will no longer tolerate complicity or self-interest. This decisive action is not merely about punishing past failures; it is about building enduring institutions that can uphold law and order long after any single administration.

The impact of this institutional cleansing cannot be overstated. It ensures that raids, arrests, and prosecutions are effective, that criminals cannot hide behind internal allies, and that public safety and justice are restored as a matter of principle, not chance. President AKD’s bold and unwavering approach sends a powerful message: in this administration, law enforcement serves the people, not the criminal, and the underworld will no longer enjoy the shield of corruption that allowed it to flourish for decades.

The Size of the Drug Economy and Weapons

Sri Lanka’s battle in 2025 is monumental. The following is just tip of the iceberg.

Drug Seizures:

* 1,248 kg heroin | 1,852 kg ICE | 955 kg heroin | 1,422 kg ICE

* 471 kg hashish | 29 kg cocaine | 3,773 kg cannabis | 3.5 million illicit pharmaceutical tablets

In short, the southern region of the country had effectively become a hub for the drug trade, where truckloads and boatloads of narcotics arrived almost daily. Entire manufacturing and distribution units operated in secret, often without a single signboard, turning ordinary industrial areas into covert drug factories. This audacious operation highlights the scale, sophistication, and impunity with which criminal networks thrived, underscoring the enormous challenge President AKD faces in reclaiming these territories for law and order.

Weapons Seizures:

* 1,721 firearms | 61 T-56 rifles | 62 pistols + uncounted ammunition

Arrests:

* Over 120,000 individuals detained for drug-related offenses (Jan–July 2025)

Asset Seizures:

* Assets worth 730 million LKR (~2.4 million USD) including properties, vehicles, and cash

Strategy:

* Enhanced law enforcement

* Regional and international cooperation

* Financial tracking and asset forfeiture

* Community rehabilitation programs

The scale demonstrates AKD’s commitment: this is not reactionary policing — it is national restoration, for which the nation must be united.

Public Concern about the Future and Their Children

The drug menace in Sri Lanka has reached alarming proportions, invading schools, villages, and even sacred spaces such as temples. What was once a hidden threat has now become a daily reality that threatens the moral and social fabric of communities? Parents live in constant fear for their children’s safety, as reports emerge of mothers selling drugs while carrying infants, families being torn apart by murders committed to fund addiction, and rising rates of theft, robbery, and violent confrontations. Trust among neighbors is eroding, communities are fractured, and a climate of suspicion and fear has settled over much of the nation. The next generation is growing up in a society where lawlessness, addiction, and crime appear almost normalized — a dire warning of the consequences of inaction.

President AKD understands that this is more than a criminal issue; it is a crisis that strikes at the heart of society’s future. His administration has adopted a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy designed not only to enforce the law, but to rebuild communities, restore public confidence, and protect children from the perils of addiction and criminal exploitation. Key elements of this approach include:

* Targeted law enforcement: Intensive operations focus on schools, villages, and vulnerable communities to remove traffickers, dismantle drug networks, and reclaim spaces for safe living and learning.

* Rehabilitation programs for addicts: Individuals trapped in cycles of addiction are provided with support, treatment, and reintegration programs, reducing crime and mitigating the social consequences of substance abuse.

* Public awareness and prevention campaigns: Families, children, and local communities are educated on the dangers of drugs, creating a culture of vigilance and resilience. Parents are empowered to protect their children and participate actively in prevention efforts.

* Strict monitoring of sacred and public spaces: Temples, community centers, and schools are safeguarded against infiltration by criminal elements, ensuring these vital institutions remain safe havens and centers of moral guidance.

Through these measures, President AKD is not only restoring law and order, but also rebuilding the nation’s social fabric, instilling hope, and demonstrating that the state can protect its citizens. His decisive, structured, and morally grounded approach ensures that children can grow up in an environment where justice prevails over fear, and where crime no longer dictates the rules of daily life.

In confronting this menace, AKD is sending a powerful message: the future of Sri Lanka’s children matters, and the government will take every necessary step to safeguard it. This is not merely a policy — it is a promise that the nation can witness, trust, and rely upon.

The Wound of the Beggar

One of the most disturbing obstacles to President AKD’s mission is the deliberate non-cooperation and cynicism of the opposition. Instead of joining a historic, national effort to eradicate the underworld and the drug menace, they have chosen the path of denial, distortion, disruption and at the same accusing the government by stating it supports the underworld criminal activities and drug menace.

While the government has launched unprecedented operations against major criminal and narcotic networks, the opposition continues to dismiss these actions as mere “showpieces” — claiming that nothing substantial has been achieved. Yet behind this criticism lies a darker truth: the opposition does not want the menace to end. They prefer it alive and visible, as a political weapon to be exploited during elections.

When violence erupts or crimes are reported, they publicly decry the threat to national security, creating fear and unrest — while privately counting on it to sustain their political narrative. Indeed, isolated and fighting among rival groups does not force any threat to the national security. In short, due to prompt action by the government, the above are gradually disappearing. 

For decades, this cynical strategy of the opposition has served them well: allow the underworld to persist, then promise the public, during election campaigns, that they will finally eradicate it. Empty promises became their political lifeline, while the nation continued to suffer, communities remained unsafe, and children were drawn into the cycle of addiction and crime.

Even more alarming is the fear that grips the opposition itself. Many of the underworld figures and drug traffickers now facing prosecution were once their silent supporters, offering funding, influence, and enforcement capabilities. As President AKD dismantles these networks, these individuals are now being brought to justice, cutting off the opposition’s long-standing channels of support.

In effect, the opposition treats the underworld like a beggar treats a wound — not as something to heal, but as a visible weakness to exploit for sympathy and survival. Their politics feeds on the nation’s pain, preserving chaos to secure their own political gains.

President AKD’s resolve confronts this strategy head-on. His administration refuses to tolerate fear or self-interest dictating national security. With every high-profile raid, every asset seizure, and every prosecution of a notorious figure, he sends a clear message: the era of political impunity for criminals is over.

The louder the opposition protests, the clearer it becomes who truly fears the end of the underworld. And that, in itself, signals the historic nature of the President’s campaign: one that will break entrenched cycles of corruption, protect citizens, and restore trust in the state.

The Turning Point: Why AKD’s Mission Will Succeed

President AKD’s campaign against the underworld and drug menace is not a temporary law-and-order operation — it is a sweeping national reconstruction project. Unlike previous administrations, which focused on short-term raids and empty rhetoric, AKD is addressing the problem at its roots, transforming the moral, institutional, and social foundations of Sri Lanka. His approach is comprehensive, strategic, and uncompromising, designed to outlast political cycles and permanent structural decay.

The success of this historic mission relies on three decisive pillars:

1. Independence from criminal-political alliances

For decades, the underworld thrived under political protection. AKD, untainted by these networks, acts with complete independence. He owes loyalty only to the people, not to those who once shielded criminals for votes, power, or profit. This independence allows him to target networks wherever they exist, prosecute high-profile offenders, and dismantle entrenched criminal-political alliances with courage and authority.

2. Institutional reform to outlast individuals

AKD is not focused solely on immediate arrests or headline-making operations. He is building enduring systems — from law enforcement agencies to judicial processes and monitoring institutions — that ensure the fight against organized crime is sustainable. By fortifying institutions, he prevents future administrations from reversing progress, ensuring that the underworld cannot regain the foothold it once had.

3. Unwavering public trust as moral authority

Leadership is meaningless without the people’s confidence. AKD’s deep connection with citizens gives him the moral authority to act boldly. The public, informed and empowered, becomes a force multiplier, supporting reforms, reporting crimes, and rejecting intimidation. This bond between leadership and citizenry transforms the fight from a government campaign into a national movement for justice, safety, and dignity.

This mission is more than law enforcement; it is a reclamation of Sri Lanka’s dignity, security, and future. Every decisive action — raids, seizures, prosecutions — sends a message: the era of impunity and political compromise is over. Citizens now see tangible change, and for the first time in decades, they believe the underworld and drug menace can be truly dismantled.

President AKD’s vision is clear: the fight against crime is not merely a battle of enforcement, but a struggle to restore the nation’s moral fabric, rebuild public trust, and protect future generations. The boldness, integrity, and foresight of this strategy signal a historic turning point. Unlike past promises that dissolved into inaction, this time the country witnesses leadership that will not fail — a leadership capable of ending the cycle of fear, corruption, and lawlessness once and for all.

Conclusion: A Historic Mission That Will Succeed

History has long shown the limitations of promises without action. For decades, successive governments in Sri Lanka pledged to eradicate the underworld and end the drug menace, only to watch these threats grow more entrenched with each passing year. Every leader faced the same obstacles — political interference, corruption, weak institutions, and public despair — and every attempt ended in failure. The people became resigned to fear, believing that crime and drugs were permanent fixtures of daily life.

President AKD has broken this cycle of failure. Unlike his predecessors, his campaign is not a series of temporary operations or political gestures; it is a strategic, national reconstruction project designed to permanently dismantle the criminal networks that have long held Sri Lanka hostage. From tackling the political protection of criminals to cleansing law enforcement, reforming the judicial process, confronting the expanding drug and weapons trade, and restoring public trust, every measure is deliberate, well-coordinated, profoundly united and bold.

AKD’s leadership is defined by integrity, courage, and unwavering moral authority. He acts independently of criminal-political alliances, places institutional reform at the center of his strategy, and empowers citizens to become active partners in safeguarding the nation. His vision is clear: the underworld will no longer dictate the rules of society, and the people — particularly the children — will no longer live in fear.

The evidence of progress is already visible. High-profile arrests, large-scale drug and weapons seizures, asset confiscations, and the dismantling of organized crime networks signal a decisive shift. Villages, schools, and sacred spaces are being reclaimed. Communities are beginning to see that justice can be swift, effective, and impartial. And perhaps most importantly, citizens are regaining faith — faith that a government can protect them, restore order, and secure the future of the nation’s children.

President AKD’s campaign is not a promise to be questioned; it is a commitment in action, backed by strategy, results, and the determination to see it through to completion. For the first time in decades, Sri Lankans can believe that the end of the underworld and the drug menace is not just possible, but inevitable. History will remember those who tried and failed — but it will also remember one leader who refused to fail. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is that leader, and under his decisive guidance, the nation will witness the triumph of law, justice, and moral courage.

The message is clear: AKD will not waver. AKD will not compromise. And AKD will succeed — for the sake of Sri Lanka, for its children, and for the restoration of a society governed by justice and integrity.

For the people, for the children, and for the nation — AKD will not fail.

*The writer, among many served as the Special Adviser to the President of Namibia from 2006 to 2012 and was a Senior Consultant with the UNDP for 20 years, and a Senior Economist with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (1972-1993). He can be reached at asoka.seneviratne@gmail.com