Deal firmly with extremists, PM tells police

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe requested police to act firmly against extremists and to thwart their efforts and stabilise national unity in the country.

“The Good Governance Government has worked to establish national unity since President Maithripala Sirisena was elected the President. We all have a right to take pride over our race and religion whether we be Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay,” he said.

“Above all this, we should take pride about our Sri Lankan identity. If we don’t respect our Sri Lankan identity and try to hurl abuse at other communities and religions, we would be branded as extremists bent on breaking and disrupting national unity. The duty of preventing such people from acting for personal gain or a long term objective wittingly or unwittingly lies with the police,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said. The Prime Minister expressed these sentiments presiding over the passing out parade of a batch of apprentice policemen who had completed training at the Kalutara Police Training College on November 20.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe recently pointed out the possibility of implementing the law against such extremist elements.

He said the objective of the government is to transform the Sri Lankan Police into the best police service in Asia to suit the needs of the 21st century.

The government hoped to provide the police service with modern training improving training facilities at the Police Training College.

“The government had already attended to the salary issues and service conditions of policemen. Attention had now been drawn towards improving facilities at police stations,” he said. Steps will also be taken to set up a Police University College to impart knowledge and training in criminal, justice and court procedures. Today, controlling or keeping a tab on communication had become complex with the advent of social media and the internet, he said.