Sri Lanka's Massive Drug Crackdown Results in Over 40,000 Arrests

Despite U.N. Criticism of Potential Human Rights Violations, Operations Continue

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested over 40,000 people in a month-long crackdown on drugs, with 5,000 ordered detained by the courts.
Despite criticism from the U.N. human rights council over potential human rights violations, Sri Lanka's Public Security Minister Tiran Alles insists the operations will continue.
The U.N. has expressed concern over reports of unauthorized searches, arbitrary arrests, and even public strip searches during the operations, code-named 'yukthiya,' or justice.
Acting police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon claims that 65% of Sri Lanka's narcotics distribution network has been dismantled over the past month, with hopes to eliminate it fully by the end of this month.
Shakya Nanayakkara, head of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, estimates there are about 100,000 known heroin addicts in Sri Lanka, and another 50,000 people are known to be addicted to methamphetamines.