Operation Yukthiya

Operation Yukthiya
Date 17 December 2023 – present (1 year, 1 month and 2 days) Location Sri Lanka Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force  Sri Lanka Army	Drug dealers
Commanders and leaders
Ranil Wickremesinghe Dinesh Gunawardena Tiran Alles	Unknown
Casualties and losses
38,525 suspects arrested

Operation Yukthiya (Sinhala: යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුම, lit. 'Operation Justice') is an ongoing anti-drug operation conducted by the Sri Lankan Police following directives from the Ministry of Public Security.[1] Starting from 17 December 2023, the police, the Special Task Force and the Sri Lankan Army carried out islandwide raids with 38,525 suspects being arrested as of 17 January 2024.[2] Authorities have seized hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs, valued at approximately 4.7 billion Sri Lankan rupees.[2] Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles stated that crime rates across the country fell by 17% within the first month of the operation.[3]

The operation has notably drawn criticism from the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and various other human rights groups,[4][5] who have expressed concerns over the mass arrests and potential human rights violations.[6][7] Tiran Alles has dismissed the criticism and reaffirmed his commitment to the operation.[8]

See also

• Human rights in Sri Lanka

References

1. "Police commence operation 'Yukthiya' to eradicate drugs and underworld". Daily FT. December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
2. "One month into 'Yukthiya', authorities hail it as a success". The Sunday Times. January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
3. "Crime rate down 17% due to 'Yukthiya'– Minister Alles". Ceylon Today. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
4. "Pressure mounts on govt. to halt Operation Yukthiya". The Island. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
5. "Sri Lanka: Stop Abusive Anti-Drug Operation and Release Those Arbitrarily Detained". Human Rights Watch. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
6. "UN experts call on Sri Lanka to immediately suspend and review 'Yukthiya' anti-drug operation". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
7. "The 'Yukthiya' Operation – Press Notice No: HRC/P/i/E/08/01/24" (PDF). Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
8. "Minister Alles says 'Yukthiya' operation will continue". Ceylon Today. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.