Sri Lanka, July 28 -- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved publishing in the Government Gazette a draft Bill to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 218), before submitting it to Parliament for approval.

Under the existing legal provisions, approval had already been granted by the Cabinet on March 16, 2026, to amend the Ordinance to enable the disposal of narcotic drugs already in custody and newly seized narcotics without having to retain them until the conclusion of court proceedings, based on the recommendations of a committee report.

In addition, the Cabinet, at its meeting on April 20, 2026, approved amendments to Sections 54(1)(a) and 83(2) and the Third Schedule of the Ordinance, taking into account th...