Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake today said President Maithripala Sirisena and the government would never protect drug dealers. 

Speaking to the media in Colombo today, Karunanayake said since the day he started politics, he had been crusading against drug dealers. 

"That's why my character was assassinated and false allegations were levelled against me," Karunanayake said, adding that he even had to face violence, unleashed by drug dealers, during previous election campaigns. 

"They are the ones who destroy the future of our youth and they should be severely dealt with," the Minister said expressing his strong objections to the drug networks which are currently being dismantled by the Police.

"Stern action should be taken against them, irrespective of where they are," he added. 

The Minister also stated that he had adopted a new programme to eradicate bribery and corruption from the Power and Energy Ministry with the support of the public. 

"Usually, people start talking about corruption after we make decisions within an institutional framework. I have introduced a new system where the public can examine the decision-making process of our ministry. As a result, there will not be any room for corruption allegations," Karunanayake added.