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Tear gas canisters: ‘Priority item during a crisis’

07 May 2022

 
  • Tear gas grenades ordered in 2019
  • Adequate stocks for contingencies: Alwis
  By Skandha Gunasekara The Government yesterday (7) asserted that a new variant of tear gas canisters currently being used to disperse protests had been ordered several years earlier. Ministry of Public Security Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis told The Sunday Morning that the tear gas canisters which were now being used had been ordered in 2019. “I’m not certain of the exact date but they were bought in 2019,” Alwis said, adding that the procurement process for such devices took time. When asked if the Government would bring down more if current stocks ran out, he said that tear gas would be made a priority item and imported as the maintenance of public order was important during a crisis. “If we need, there is a process of getting it. We will have to discuss it with the Treasury. It will be considered a priority item if we really need more tear gas canisters and we will import more, but I don’t think it will come to that,” he opined. However, he said that sufficient stocks were available. “We have adequate stocks. I cannot reveal the exact numbers. We normally plan for contingencies. I hope these protests and riots will die down soon and that there won’t be any necessity to use them.” Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa also confirmed that the canisters had been bought in 2019. Public outcry ensued on social media in the last two days, with posts being shared picturing what appeared to be newly-made tear gas canisters with allegations that the Government was using much-needed foreign currency to procure tear gas.   


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