COLOMBO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated the government's decision to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers, a government statement said Wednesday.
Sirisena said although certain organizations had raised their voices against the government's decision, these organizations had failed to assess the damage and trauma caused to the nation if drug traffickers were left to continue the illegal activities.
He said he would soon release information to the drug dealers and the parties behind them.
Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers had taken a collective decision in July last year, to impose the death sentence considering the recent rise in drug-related murders and a large number of drug imports planned by drug traffickers who have been jailed.
The government said the island country had become a transit point for major drug cartels as a consequence of the prolonged illicit activities of the Tamil Tiger rebels, who were defeated by government troops in May 2009 following a 30-year civil conflict.
On Tuesday, the Police Special Task Force and Anti Narcotics Unit busted an international drug smuggling ring in capital Colombo, arresting five suspects along with 90 kg of heroin.
