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Sri Lanka President: Duterte Drug War 'An Example to the Whole World'


Sri Lanka’s president has praised his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, which has taken thousands of lives, calling it an “example to the world”.

In a speech during a visit to the Philippines this week, Maithripala Sirisena said he intended to replicate Duterte’s ruthless approach to tackling illegal drug use.

“The war against crime and drugs carried out by you is an example to the whole world, and personally to me,” said Sirisena. “Drug menace is rampant in my country and I feel that we should follow your footsteps to control this hazard.”


In his toast during a state banquet in Malacañang, Sirisena said Duterte’s drug war is also a personal example to him.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena (L) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R)

“Excellency, the war against crime and drugs carried out by you is an example to the whole world, and personally to me. Drug menace is rampant in my country and I feel that we should follow your footsteps to control this hazard,” he said.


While lauded by Duterte’s supporters, the war on drugs has drawn global condemnation for the mounting deaths linked to it.

In his own statement, Duterte said that their aligned vision could mean partnering with Sri Lanka in the future to address international drug trafficking.

The speech was not the first time Sirisena has signalled his admiration for Duterte’s war on drugs. In July, Sri Lanka ended its 43-year moratorium on executions to bring back hanging as a punishment for drug dealers, a move the Sri Lankan president said was directly inspired by Duterte’s policy in the Philippines.


During a cabinet meeting in July, Sirisena said he “was ready to sign the death warrants” of repeat drug offenders, according to his spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne. Nineteen drug offenders who were serving life sentences now face the death penalty.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena (L) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R)

The Sri Lankan government says narcotics are a growing problem in the country and in January this year, authorities seized a cocaine stash worth $108m from a single shipment in the port of Colombo, which is a growing hub for international drug trafficking.


“We were told that the Philippines has been successful in deploying the army and dealing with this problem,” said Senaratne in July. “We will try to replicate their success.”

WATCH DUTERTE'S SPEECH HERE:



ALSO READ: U.S. Gov't backs PH's Drug War

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This article first appeared on ABS-CBN News & The Guardian.

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