MANILA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena lauded on Saturday the anti-drug campaign of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the world needs to respect the Duterte government's war on drugs.

During a visit to the main headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Sirisena admitted that he admired the Duterte administration's "bold commitment to address the drug menace."

The Sri Lankan government would focus on the distribution hub of international drug trafficking in Sri Lanka which had been a perennial problem in the area for years, a statement issued by the PNP quoted Sirisena as saying.

Sirisena, who arrived in Manila on Jan. 15 for a five-day state visit, left for Sri Lanka on Saturday.