Sri Lanka Unfurls ‘Nation United’ Banner in New Era of War on Drugs: Over 1,000 Arrested

In a clear departure from the perceived failures of past anti-narcotics efforts, Sri Lanka has officially inaugurated a sweeping, multi-sectoral campaign titled “Nation United – National Drive,” signaling a decisive shift in the government’s approach to what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has repeatedly termed a “national catastrophe.” Launched at the end of October 2025, this initiative moves beyond the purely enforcement-centric focus of its controversial predecessor operations, attempting to leverage the collective resources of government, religious institutions, civil society, and communities in a bid to truly eradicate the drug menace from the island. The campaign aims to create a broad social movement, emphasizing that the crisis has infiltrated every corner of society, harming schoolchildren, youth, and the stability of families, and thus requires an all-hands-on-deck response.

The launch event, held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, saw the President deliver a firm warning to those involved in the drug trade, whether traffickers, enforcers, or, critically, complicit officials. President Dissanayake specifically addressed the widely held public belief that the narcotics trade has thrived under the protective umbrella of corrupt politicians and sections of the police and military. He vowed to dismantle these political protection networks, a commitment that resonates powerfully with a public long frustrated by the impunity enjoyed by high-level criminals. The administration asserts that its willingness to pursue high-profile cases, including the arrest of a politician from the opposition party on charges related to methamphetamine manufacturing.

However, the “Nation United” drive is not merely a symbolic reboot of a police operation; it is being established as a formal national mission with a comprehensive framework. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the initiative operates on a multifaceted approach encompassing not just intensified law enforcement and the dismantling of trafficking networks, but also a significant focus on prevention, public awareness, and rehabilitation. In a move that signals a serious commitment to the social dimension of the crisis, the government has announced increased budget allocations to expand rehabilitation facilities and support services for drug dependents. This is a vital recognition that 64 percent of the country’s prison inmates are incarcerated for drug-related offenses, primarily users and small-scale offenders, as highlighted by official figures cited by the President himself.

Enforcement under this new mission remains robust. The Police Media Division has provided daily updates illustrating the campaign’s intensity. In the first week of November alone, raids conducted under the “Nation United” umbrella have resulted in arrests consistently exceeding 1,000 individuals per day, alongside significant seizures of heroin and crystal methamphetamine (locally known as ‘Ice’), demonstrating that the high-tempo enforcement inherited from the earlier phases of the anti-drug efforts continues unabated. For instance, in a single day recently, police reported seizing over a kilogram of heroin and nearly three kilograms of ‘Ice’, alongside arresting over a thousand suspects and referring a smaller fraction for rehabilitation, according to official police reports from November 7, 2025.

Yet, this continued reliance on mass arrests immediately raises alarm bells for human rights organizations, which maintain deep reservations about the procedural integrity of the sweeping campaign. While the government pledges support for rehabilitation, the question remains whether these facilities will utilize voluntary, health-led treatment models or continue the compulsory, military-style approach that drew condemnation from groups like the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in previous operations. Critics argue that without ironclad judicial oversight and a firm adherence to due process, particularly concerning searches and detentions, the operation risks repeating the mistakes of the past: namely, prioritizing arrest numbers over justice, severely overcrowding prisons, and disproportionately targeting the vulnerable instead of the kingpins. The success of the “Nation United” initiative will ultimately be judged by its ability to balance the necessary political will for enforcement with an equally strong commitment to human rights, public health, and sustainable, long-term legal reform.