Sri Lanka is facing emerging challenges in efforts to curb the influx of narcotics, with drugs increasingly entering the country via e-commerce platforms and especially through travellers arriving from Thailand, where cannabis has been legalised, Director of Customs Chandana Punchihewa has said.

Addressing the media yesterday, Punchihewa noted that a significant proportion of illicit substances were now being smuggled through well-known online shopping platforms.

“These transactions conducted over the internet present a new challenge, as they are difficult to monitor. The companies rely on declared data and are often unaware of the actual contents of parcels,” he said.

He acknowledged that Sri Lanka had previously maintained a relatively lax approach towards regulating e-commerce imports, as the volume of such goods had been minimal.

“Earlier, the quantities were negligible and often overlooked. In some instances, due to the low value of the goods, taxes were not imposed. It was only last year that we began to regulate this sector more closely,” he said.

Punchihewa said stricter enforcement of Customs regulations was introduced after authorities identified the use of e-commerce channels for drug smuggling. He added that intelligence shared through international networks, including cooperation with global customs authorities and the World Customs Organization, has assisted in intercepting suspicious consignments.

He also highlighted an increase in narcotics, particularly cannabis, being brought into the country by travellers arriving from Thailand, where its use has been legalised. Three arrests linked to such cases have been recorded so far this year. Sri Lanka and Thailand currently maintain a visa-free travel arrangement.

In 2025, Sri Lanka Customs recorded 147 drug-related arrests, resulting in the seizure of 435 kilos of various narcotics with an estimated street value of Rs. 5.8 billion.

The haul included 376 kilos of cannabis, 32 kilos of cocaine, 14.6 kilos of MDA, 8.5 kilos of methamphetamine, 3.6 kilos of heroin, and 2 kilos of other substances.

Of the total quantity seized, 283 kilos were detected at Bandaranaike International Airport, 14.4 kilos during Customs inspections, 97 kilos at the Central Mail Exchange, 21 kilos through unaccompanied parcel services, and 19 kilos from passenger goods warehouses, he said.

A key step towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s fight against narcotics was taken yesterday, when a high-level committee appointed to remove legal barriers to the swift destruction of seized drugs met at the Presidential Secretariat under the government’s ‘Ratama Ekata’ national programme.

The meeting focused on long-standing delays in destroying confiscated narcotics — an issue that has frequently drawn public attention and concern.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that expediting the destruction of seized drug stocks is vital to ensuring public trust in the State’s campaign against narcotics.

“The public must have confidence that the government’s programme to eradicate the drug menace is being carried out transparently and effectively. Therefore, it is essential that narcotics taken into custody are destroyed as quickly as possible under proper legal procedures,” the President said.

Officials noted that prolonged storage of seized drugs due to legal and procedural barriers had created challenges for enforcement agencies and raised questions among the public.

Representatives from the judiciary, Police and the Government Analyst’s Department discussed practical difficulties faced under the current system, including delays related to court procedures, evidence handling and laboratory verification.

Following extensive discussions, it was decided to proceed with the approval process of the amended draft legislation after incorporating the necessary revisions.

The proposed legal reforms are expected to strengthen the government’s anti-drug drive and enhance the efficiency and credibility of operations carried out to eliminate narcotics from Sri Lanka.

By Ifham Nizam

The Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Matthew Duckworth, met with Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi on Tuesday (24) at the latter’s Ministry to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation on environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The meeting, attended by Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala and senior officials, focused on enhancing Sri Lanka–Australia collaboration in global and regional environmental initiatives, with particular emphasis on the upcoming COP31 climate negotiations, where Australia is expected to play a leading role.

Discussions centred on Sri Lanka’s key priorities in international climate engagements, including advancing climate adaptation and resilience, mobilising climate finance, and addressing loss and damage mechanisms. Both sides also underscored the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to tackle shared environmental challenges.

Minister Patabendi appreciated Australia’s continued support to Sri Lanka and highlighted the need to further expand collaboration in critical areas such as climate adaptation, protection of ocean and coastal ecosystems, disaster risk reduction, and access to technical expertise and climate financing.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of working together under the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), emphasising their shared commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable ocean governance.

Australia’s leadership in advancing the Blue Economy was also acknowledged, particularly in areas such as capacity building, knowledge sharing, and sustainable marine resource management, with Sri Lanka identified as a key partner in these efforts.

Emerging areas of cooperation discussed at the meeting included blue carbon ecosystems, marine pollution control, ocean science research, and disaster risk management, including early warning systems.

The Australian delegation also indicated potential support for strengthening climate-resilient livelihoods for women in Sri Lanka, recognising the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.

Both parties further explored opportunities for collaboration in achieving carbon Net Zero targets, while also reviewing preparations for the COP31 negotiations.

The meeting marked a renewed commitment by both Sri Lanka and Australia to deepen engagement on climate action and environmental governance, amid growing global urgency to address climate change and its far-reaching impacts.

By Ifham Nizam