Japanese ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki today (08) handed over counter-terrorism surveillance and investigation vehicles and narcotic analyzers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat Office.
The Government of Japan has also extended equipment in total of JPY 200 million (approx. Rs.350 million) to mitigate the influx of illegal drugs to realize a healthy and peaceful society free from drug abuse, amidst the growing drug-related illegal activities in Sri Lanka as a new social problem. The Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer and Mobile X-Ray Scanner donated by Japan will be used to detect and analyze narcotics and other illegal substances and is expected to enhance the capacity of the Sri Lankan Police to deal with illegal drugs.
Among the dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony were Minister of Public Security – Sarath Weerasekara, State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry -Dilum Amunugama, Defence Secretary – Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and IGP – C.D. Wickramaratne, among others.
In a statement, the Japanese embassy in Sri Lanka notes : “As a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, Japan has been providing extensive support throughout the islands to help enhance peace and security in Sri Lanka, including livelihood improvement and empowerment of the people affected by the past conflicts. Japan will continue to support the efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to eradicate terrorism and illegal drug crimes that pose a threat to the people in Sri Lanka.”
