BriefingAsia-Pacific

Sri Lanka’s Crackdown on Drugs Raises Concerns About a Return to Strongman Rule

Sri Lanka’s Crackdown on Drugs Raises Concerns About a Return to Strongman Rule
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, center, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, attend a ceremony to destroy a haul of seized cocaine, in Katunayaka, Sri Lanka, Jan. 15, 2018 (AP photo by Eranga Jayawardena).

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series about national drug policies in various countries around the world.

In February, job advertisements appeared in Sri Lankan newspapers, soliciting male candidates between 18 and 45 years old. According to The Associated Press, the posting said applicants must be male Sri Lankan citizens of “excellent moral character” who can pass a test certifying their “mental strength.”

The position? Hangman.

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