Sri Lanka's Anti-drug Operation Reveals Deep Cracks

Sri Lanka is facing a significant drug issue, particularly among adults and school children. Despite national and international prevention efforts, a regional approach is needed, with increased collaboration between the Sri Lankan Attorney General's Department and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. With over 58,000 arrests and substantial drug seizures, the government's crackdown on drug-related crime has yielded mixed results. It faces scrutiny for its heavy-handed, rights-violating approach, a disproportionate focus on impoverished users and small-time offenders and for seemingly ignoring rich consumers and major criminals, raising doubts about the operation's effectiveness.