The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) has called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately reverse its decision to permit foreign investment in cannabis cultivation, warning that the move poses significant risks to the country’s health, economy, and national security.
In a statement issued on Friday, ADIC slammed the announcement made by Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa on August 12, confirming that seven foreign investors had been granted approval by the Board of Investment (BOI) to begin cannabis cultivation for export.
The government has defended the project as a means of generating economic growth.
However, ADIC warned that similar proposals had previously been shelved following widespread resistance from medical experts and community organisations — resistance it says has been ignored this time.
The organisation also expressed dismay at the involvement of the current Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion, who once publicly opposed cannabis cultivation but is now part of the project’s implementation.
ADIC questioned the economic rationale behind the initiative, pointing out that the global cannabis market is currently in decline, with many multinational companies suffering billions of dollars in losses due to oversupply and market saturation.
“Can Sri Lanka realistically compete with cannabis giants like China and the Netherlands?” the organisation asked, further pressing the government to disclose whether a comprehensive impact study has been conducted, and what safeguards are in place to ensure the cannabis remains confined to regulated zones.
The ADIC urged authorities to reconsider the decision, noting that it risks worsening the country’s ongoing economic and social crises.
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