Curb crime, illegal activities without delay

Defence Secretary (Retd.) Maj. Gen.Kamal Gunaratne said the senior police officers-in-charge of provinces should be ashamed of wearing their uniforms if drug trafficking, extortion, underworld activities, illegal logging, brothels, illegal sand mining and other illegal activities were taking place on a massive scale in their respective divisions.

“You need to curb illegal activities that are increasing at an alarming rate without heeding to forces that might influence you and also to protect the dignity of the uniform that you wear. No police officer, from senior DIGs, DIGs to OICs in the area, can wash off their hands as they all are responsible for the increase in crimes rate in their areas,” the Defence Secretary said addressing senior DIGs and DIGs representing all provinces of the Sri Lanka Police at a special meeting held at the Defence Ministry.

He advised the police officials not to consider the Police profession as just another job as the lives of the country’s people were in their hands.

“The responsibility of the Armed Forces is to protect people in events like major natural catastrophes like floods and landslides, terrorism or hostilities and also virus outbreaks like the Coronavirus. But you are the ones who know the pulses of the people. Therefore you shoulder a bigger responsibility in protecting people’s lives,” Maj.Gen.Gunaratne said adding that while many police officers are serving in a dignified manner, some are a disgrace to the entire Police Department.

The Defence Secretary said he had received letters from the public from different police divisions stating the inefficiency of some policemen, including top police officials in the areas, in curbing crimes and also their involvement with criminals in those areas.

“There is no point of lodging complaints about drug peddlers to the police as next day those drug dealers, who were informed by the police on our complaints, are threatening to destroy our families,” the Defence Secretary quoted from letters that he received from various police divisions and questioned the Senior DIGs and DIGs whether the police could gain any respect in such situations.

“If any of those top police officers, who have had hand in such crimes, are present here today, they should be ashamed of themselves. I have received many complaints that drug trafficking is carried out with the protection of some policemen during curfew and drugs were being distributed in motorcycles and three-wheelers and also using young children with the blessings of those corrupt police cops,” he revealed.

Although the Defence Ministry, issuing a letter on April 5 this year has instructed Superintendents of Police (SP) to prepare reports on the underworld criminals and drug traffickers in the respective police divisions, they have failed to submit those reports to the Ministry, so far.

The Defence Secretary has instructed the acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickremaratne to look into the matter.

“If it took two-and-a-half months to implement, how could we take the perpetrators to book,” the Defence Secretary queried.

He stressed that when directives were issued by the Defence Ministry or the IGP, it should not be considered as directives issued by a corporation or any other government institution as it was a matter related to national security.

Maj.Gen. Gunaratne said police officers were responsible for maintaining national security as they are the main contributors to create a fear-free environment for the people to live freely.

“From today onwards, you have to perform your duties properly in a responsible manner. Let me know if any of you were not allowed to perform your duties. I request you to perform your duties to gain respect for the uniform and it is your responsibility not to leave room for any political force to harass people in your respective areas. The SSPs and ASPs have a responsibility to look into these,” he said.

He also said the senior police officers should be held responsible if any form of crimes, including theft, murder or drug trafficking, were taking place in the areas coming under their purview.

“You can inform about officers who perform duties irresponsibly to me or the IGP but those who make complaints should have clean records,” he said.

He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Election Manifesto had spelled 10 main objectives and maintaining national security was its main priority and his main intention of appointing the Presidential Task Force was also to support to build a safe country, a disciplined, virtuous and legitimate society for all Sri Lankans.

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