- Public Security Minister Alles calls for report
Following a revelation that about 5,400 police officers have been deployed for the security of various persons in addition to those deputed for the security of Parliamentarians, including Ministers, the Ministry of Public Security is to conduct a review and remove such security attachments whenever possible, according to Subject Minister Tiran Alles.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday (6), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith Mannapperuma raised concerns over the shortage of police officers in the country. “There is a huge shortage of police officers. That is because police stations are not facilitated with officers, financial allocations, and other facilities as per the population in the relevant police divisions.”
Even amidst such shortages of police officers, he claimed that a significant number of police officers have unnecessarily been attached to the security of various parties such as religious leaders and places, MPs and Ministers as well as Judges and other senior Government officials. He queried Alles as to whether such security attachments are being reviewed once a month, at the least.
In response to Mannapperuma’s concerns, Alles said that it is not possible to conduct monthly reviews. “Reviewing these matters as he (Mannapperuma) says is not something that is possible, but, about 5,400 police officers have been deputed for various other persons in addition to MPs and Ministers. I have called a report on that matter. When the report is received, we will review it and remove such security attachments whenever possible,” he said. Further, he emphasised that the necessary revisions will be made based on the particulars included in the relevant report on the security details of non-MP very important persons (VIPs).
The Police, which consists of 43 territorial divisions and 67 functional divisions, is mainly responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic laws. There are more than 600 police stations with more than 84,000 officers at present. As the country has been seeing a considerable increase in crimes in the recent past, many parties are emphasising that the Police and other relevant agencies have failed to prevent such crimes and enforce the law against perpetrators.