“From War Fears to Drug Fears”: President Anura Kumara Vows to Eradicate Narcotics in the North
By Lions Roar News Regional Desk
JAFFNA, SRI LANKA (Saturday, January 17, 2026) — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a powerful message of unity and protection in Jaffna yesterday, drawing a poignant parallel between the fears of the past and the challenges of the present.
Addressing a massive crowd at the Jaffna College of Technology playground on Friday afternoon, the President noted that while Northern parents once lived in fear of losing their children to war, they now face a new enemy: illegal drugs.
🛡️ A National Shield Against Narcotics
The event marked the Northern Provincial phase of the ‘Ratama Ekata’ (The Country Together) national campaign, a multi-agency operation dedicated to the total eradication of the drug menace.
- No Turning Back: The President declared that the national movement to wipe out drugs is an “unstoppable journey” and will not be reversed until the youth are safe.
- A “Great Defensive Wall”: He called on the community to act as a human shield, taking collective responsibility to protect the next generation from addiction.
- Honoring the Frontline: President Dissanayake presented awards to officers of the Tri-Forces and the Police in the Northern Province for their successful recent raids and active participation in anti-drug operations.
🤝 A Government for North and South Alike
In a significant political statement, the President asserted that for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a “credible government” has been established that is equally accepted by the people of the South and the North.
“In the past, Northern parents feared for their children because of the war. Today, they fear for them because of drugs. We are building a nation where that fear is finally removed, and where every citizen, regardless of geography, trusts their leadership.” — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
🚫 Zero Tolerance for Racism
Addressing potential instability, the President warned “nationalist groups” who have lost power and are attempting to incite communal tensions in small pockets of the country. He made it clear that his administration would not allow any extremist or racist ideologies to “raise their heads” again.
🏛️ Distinguished Guests in Attendance
The high-profile event saw a rare gathering of religious and state leaders in the North:
- Government Officials: Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vedanayahan, and several Jaffna District MPs.
- Security Chiefs: Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Sampath Thuyyakontha, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, and IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya.
- Local Leadership: Jaffna District Secretary M. Pradeepan and the military commanders of the Northern region.
