• Public Security Minister orders immediate removal and replacement, gen. amnesty for weapons handover till 31 July

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne has informed Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles that the increase in murders and crimes in the Southern and Western Provinces (WP) has been caused in particular by the inefficiency of certain senior police officers and Officers-In-Charge (OICs) serving in the two provinces.

On Wednesday (21), a discussion was held between Minister Alles and the Police Chiefs regarding the measures to be taken regarding the increasing murders and crimes in the Western and Southern Provinces.

During the discussion, Wickramaratne has pointed out that the inefficiency of certain senior police officers and OICs working in those provinces has particularly caused the increase in murders and crimes. In response, Alles has told Wickramaratne to remove such officers immediately and appoint suitable officers.

Alles has also ordered Wickramaratne to strictly enforce the law regarding perpetrators. He said that no one would be allowed to exert undue influence in the enforcement of the law against such individuals and that he had received an assurance in that regard from President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Furthermore, he has informed the Police to grant a general amnesty till 31 July to hand over firearms that do not have a licence or, for which the licences have not been renewed, to the Police. With the end of the general amnesty period for handing over firearms, the Police along with the other intelligence agencies have been informed to start raiding illegal firearms, said an official of the Ministry.

Public Security Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) of the Western Province Deshbandu Tennakoon, SDIG of the Southern Province S.C. Medawatte, and Police Special Task Force Commandant DIG Waruna Jayasundara also participated in the discussion.