News
Yukthiya anti-drug and crime operation 75 percent successful, says DIG Waruna Jayasundara
Next step is to press home advantage with tri-forces help
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The aim of the Yukthiya anti-drug and crime operation was to arrest the second tier of the Sri Lankan drug trade, i.e., those who sell drugs, Commander of the Police Special Task Force (STF), DIG Waruna Jayasundara said.
DIG Jayasundera said that on top of the drug network were underworld kingpins living abroad and at the bottom tier are drug addicts, adding that before the operation was launched, the police identified about 4,000 people who were selling drugs around the country.
“Yukthiya is one of the most successful anti-drug and crime operations carried out by the Sri Lankan police in recent times. Before the operation was launched, the IGP told us that this network of drug dealers had to be broken within three months. We have arrested about 75 percent of the identified drug dealers by now.”
Jayasundara said that during the operation a large number of drug addicts, as well as large quantities of drugs, had been detected, and since December 17 they had destroyed 50 acres of cannabis.
Those involved in the Yukthiya operation had met over the past weekend and decided to seek the help of the tri-forces to fast-track the goals of the initiative, the STF commandant said.
The police with the aid of the tri-forces would intensify the operation in a bid to crush the network within the next month, he said.
“The drug addicts we arrest are sent to rehabilitation. We also focus on eradicating crime. A large number of criminals, too, have been arrested.”
Police media spokesman, DIG Nihal Thalduwa said they had identified 70 police areas where drugs were prevalent. Each of the police stations had been given five extra personnel so that these police stations could carry out search operations daily.
“Apart from the 4,000 drug dealers we identified before the operation was launched, we have now identified another 2,500 dealers. We initially thought those people are drug addicts but we have now found that they were also involved in drug dealing. The names of these individuals, too, have been sent to police stations.”
The Police Spokesman said they follow a three-pronged approach; one was to arrest drug dealers, second was to obtain detention orders so that the police could question them thoroughly and third was to identify assets acquired with money made through illegal means.
“One can be sentenced to death if one is nabbed with over five grams of hard drugs. Drug dealers know this and try to hire the best lawyer, so we have to be very thorough in our investigations. We have also asked all policemen to treat suspects properly and ensure their fundamental rights are protected.”
Deputy Director Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Unit, SP Anura Premaratna said they had confiscated property worth 735 million rupees since the start of the Yukthiya operation.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
