A total of 11,970 children have been arrested during raids under the nationwide Ratama Ekata operation since 30 October 2025, according to available figures.
Those arrested include 11,737 boys and 233 girls.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said the operation was continuing across the country, alongside a major crackdown on organised criminal networks.
He said the Police, Police Narcotics Bureau, Special Task Force, three armed forces and Coast Guard had made substantial contributions to disrupting the supply of drugs in Sri Lanka.
“As a result, tonnes of drugs that were intended to be distributed among the public have been seized. If those quantities had not been intercepted, drug traffickers and dealers would have divided them into gram-sized portions and distributed them among children,” he said.
Wijepala also linked drug trafficking to organised crime, saying underworld networks played a central role in the trade.
“Drug trafficking is connected to the underworld. These organised criminals are the main players in this operation. A major operation against them is also being carried out alongside this programme.”
