Defence Ministry to set up a Special Task Force to combat drug menace
January 27, 2020Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said a Special Task Force will be formed soon to combat drug menace to nab organised drug traffickers.
He said in the absence of a proper mechanism at the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) to coordinate effectively with other stakeholders and state institutions, it had affected the achievements of the NDDCB, which supports to control drug menace in the country.
Maj. Gen. Gunaratne addressing the NDDCB staff stressed the urgent need of a Special Task Force to coordinate collective efforts of respective stakeholders such as Security Forces, Police, Special Task Force and Health Ministry along with other responsible government institutions in combating drug menace.
“Restructuring the administrative of NDDCB, permanent and competent higher executives will be appointed soon and subsequent actions will be taken to net not only drug peddlers and users, but also the drug smugglers, who are operating and involved in drug smuggling from their prison cells,” he said.
While stressing on working hours, the Defence Secretary requested the NDDCB staff to ‘give a little bit more to the assigned work’.
Recalling military practices of his time, he stressed on the necessity of continuous learning sessions, workshops, developing leadership skills to motivate individuals and sharing working capabilities.
Recently, according to the directives of the Defence Secretary, a special operations unit that functions 24/7, was also established at the Police Special Task Force Headquarters which is also gathering information with regard to drug smuggling incidents.
Director General (Acting) Aloka Bandara, Senior Assistant Secretary Sakunika Sumathipala, Additional Secretary (Acting) Malika Suriyapperuma, Staff of the NDDCB and Defence Ministry Officials were also present at the event.
