“We have prepared the environment for the people of this country to live without fear and uncertainty. This proved our commitment to strengthening national security,” he said.“We have been able to seize heroin amounting to 738 kg in 2018 and 1,110 kg in 2019 compared to the only 31 kg in 2011, 30kg in 2012, and 181 kg in 2014, respectively.

This shows our government’s strong line against heroin trade. This also clearly shows how the previous government did not act against heroin dealers,” he added.“The murder rate which was 646 in 2012 has decreased to 486 in 2018 while the rape rate which was 2,212 in 2012 has decreased to 1,786 in 2018.The looting rate has gone down from 6,559 in 2012 to 3,133 in 2018, while crime rates have gone down from 50,972 in 2014 to 35,978 in 2018,” the Minister said.“We have also been able to increase the salaries of public servants by 107 percent over the space of four years for the first time,” Minister Madduma Bandara said.

Addressing the media briefing held at the NDF Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa’s election office in Vauxhall Street, Colombo, he said the increment of Rs. 10,000 was added to the basic salary of the public sector employees during past four years.Funds allocated to pay the salaries of nearly 1.5 million public servants have increased to Rs. 725 billion under our government.It was just Rs. 375 billion during the previous government,” he said.