Police stations identified to be constructed, renovated – Minister
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Rtd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara said that the country has 494 police stations and according to the allocated provisions, the number of police stations that needs to be constructed and renovated has already been identified.
The Minister was responding to a question by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Shantha Bandara.
The Minister said that so far the Government had constructed 62 police stations and commissioned them. “The construction work on seven police stations and the renovation work on another 10 police stations are nearing completion. The procurement on 14 police stations is under way. So far, 76 toilets have been constructed with modern hygienic facilities. Nine toilets are being constructed while another 96 are in the procurement stage,” the Minister said.
The Minister said that 427 police barracks have been identified to be renovated and under the projects, 321 police barracks have been renovated. Another 28 barracks that have to be renovated are at the procurement stage and one barrack is being constructed, the Minister said.
The Minister said that the Alawwa Police Station will be modernised and over 180 million had been allocated in this regard.
MP Shantha Bandara said that police personnel engaged in COVID prevention operations together with the other security forces, but they have been deprived of their Bata allowance. He inquired if measures will be taken to provide these police personnel their Bata. He said that during the previous government, the Bata was paid to the police personnel only one month and it was cancelled thereafter.
Minister Weerasekara said that it was a reasonable request. He said a constable receives a Bata allowance of between Rs. 9,800 to 11,200 while Chief Inspectors and other higher ranks receive Rs. 14,000 as Bata.
The Minister said that a Cabinet sub-committee has been appointed to evaluate the possible increase in their Bata allowance. The Minister assured that as soon as their recommendations are received, the payments would be made. He said that based on the Government’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ police framework, the sub-committee was appointed to resolve the grievances of the police personnel.
Prisons hold 28,541 inmates – Minister Ali Sabry
The prisons in the country hold 28,541 inmates and 20,723 of them are remand prisoners and 7,818 are convicted prisoners. By November 29, the Mahara prison has 2,891 prisoners and 2,050 of them are remand prisoners and 732 are convicts, Justice Minister Ali Sabry said.
The Minister was responding to a question by MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake under the Standing Orders 27/2 on December 1.
The Minister said that by December 12, eleven prisoners had died in the Mahara Prison incident and another 106 prisoners had sustained injuries. “Of them, 28 injured prisoners are under treatment at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, one at the Colombo National Hospital and 24 at the Welikada Prison Hospital,” the Minister said.
Minister Sabry said that 53 prisoners had been brought back to the Mahara Prison after treatment. “Two prison guards who had sustained injuries are being treated at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital,” the Minister said.
The Minister said that the Prisons Department had released several video footages of the Mahara Prison incident, and it was clear that there have been clashes between several groups in the prison.
The Justice Minister had appointed a committee comprising retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva, Justice Ministry Additional Secretary Rohana Hapugaswatte, Retired Senior DIG U.R.L.A. Ranaweera and retired Prisons Commissioner Gamini Jayasinghe.
The Minister said that thes committee has been instructed to prepare a report on the incident in a month and an interim report in a week. The committee members visited the Mahara Prison yesterday, the Minister said.
The Prisons Commissioner General has appointed a three member committee headed by a Commissioner of Prisons to conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident. “Even though the prisoners are incarcerated, the Prisons Department always treats them as members of our society. The aim of the Prisons Department is to ensure that these prisoners are productive citizens once they are released from prison. Therefore, they have constantly taken measures to ensure the safety of the lives of these prisoners. The Prisons Department will also implement the recommendations made by the committee,” the Minister said.
“About 11,500 PCR tests have been performed on inmates so far, which is about 1/3 of the total detainees. In addition to conducting PCR tests of prison inmates, measures had also been taken to conduct Rapid Antigen Testing. An antibody test will be carried out prior to prisoners being released,” the Minister said.
The Miniser said that several measures had also been taken to ensure that the prisoners are safe from COVID. Visitors into prisons will be prevented, separating and quarantining new prisoners prior to allowing them into prison and other sanitary facilities when they are produced in courts will be carried out. The infected prisoners have been housed at Kandakadu and Galella, the Minister said.
New buildings are being built at the Pallasena Prison with the assistance of the Army and the Navy by the Civil Security Department. As housing prisoners is a challenge in the COVID pandemic situation, new buildings are being built at the Wariyapola, Kalutara, Mahara, and New Magazine Prisons. The Boossa Prison has been converted into a high security prison and 110 prison cells are expected to be constructed. So far 46 of these cells have been completed and the dangerous prisoners have been housed there. The buildings at the Wariyapola Prison are expected to be completed in three years, the Minister said.
The Minister said that the increasing number of drug addicts is overcrowding prisons and therefore, the Weerawila open prison is expected to be completed in the next five years. The Minister said that those arrested for minor offences would be subjected to community based punishment. Under the Bail Ordinance, a mechanism would be devised that police bail could be granted for minor offenders, the Minister said..
The Minister said that four rehabilitation centres will be constructed under the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation to rehabilitate drug addicts.
Free PCR tests for expats who returned from Oman – Minister Johnston
The Government has taken steps to carry out free PCR tests for the expatriates from Oman who were held at the airport yesterday due to a payment issue, Highways Minister and Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando yesterday informed the House.
Minister Johnston Fernando said so when the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar alleged that the expatriates from Oman would be sent back because they would not be able to pay for quarantine.
Minister Fernando denied MP Marikkar’s allegation and said that there was no issue concerning the quarantine fee.
“There is no issue regarding any payments that should be made for quarantine centres. MP Marikkar seemed to have received wrong information, or he is trying to mislead the House. The problem is the payments for the PCR tests should be done before the expatriates leave the airport. Usually the airline is responsible for doing this payment. But they have not made the payment for this group. The Government, therefore, will bear the expenses for the PCR tests,” Minister Fernando said.
The 54 expatriates reached the country on Wednesday morning on flight 371 from Oman.
Government minimised Burevi damage – Minister Chamal
The damage caused by the Burevi cyclone was minimised owing to the comprehensive preparedness plan implemented by the Disaster Management, Military and other key responsible authorities, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said in Parliament yesterday.
“The epicenter of the cyclone "Burevi" which developed in the sea area of the Bay of Bengal entered Sri Lanka mainland via Tiriai and Kuchchaveli on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka. The cyclone is expected to gradually head towards northwest and reach the Gulf of Mannar this afternoon. Only minor damage was reported from Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Moneragala, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ampara, Mannar, Mulanithivu,Trincomalee, Mannar and Mullaitivu,” the Minister said.
“We have established 65 relief centers including four in Jaffna, 49 in Trincomalee, eight in Mannar and four in Mullaitivu. In Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Chaunia and Trincomalee, 551 families and 1,904 persons in the districts were affected. Fifteen houses were fully damaged and 170 houses partially damaged in the areas. In the Jaffna District, four persons have been injured and three disappeared while they were fishing despite the warnings,” Minister Rajapaksa said.
“Owing to the rapid but comprehensive preliminary preparations made by the Disaster Management Center, Defence Forces and other key authorities, the damage was minimized,” Minister Rajapaksa said.
Defence Forces should be upgraded – Former President
The country’s Defence Forces should be upgraded with the most sophisticated high-tech weaponry, training and knowledge, former President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said in Parliament.
He was participating in the Appropriation Bill 2021 Committee Stage Debate.
The former President said that the Defence Ministry’s expenditure head is extremely important for a country to ensure internal, national and regional security.
“Police and defence forces are doing a great service to the country. The duty of a defence ministry is extremely critical to ensure the safety of a country and its region. Our defence forces should be updated with all new technical advancements concerning military power. The methods of terrorist attacks have and will differ in future. There are cyber terrorist attacks and international terrorism operations on a large scale. As a country, we need to get ready to manage any attack. So our defence forces must be entitled to sophisticated technology and highest level of military training. Our defence forces not only ensure our national security but also become a stronghold when battling natural disasters. Now we have been hit by a cyclonic weather condition. The Government provided an extensive plan to ensure the safety of our people, to which our defence forces contributed extensively,” the former President said.
Mahara Prison riot – a planned incident – Minister Wimal
The riot at the Mahara prison was a planned incident, and it was not a demand for PCR tests, Minister Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said in Parliament. Minister Weerawansa said that the rioters may have been under the influence of drugs that are usually prescribed for serious mental diseases. He condemned the Opposition’s attempt to draw parallels between the riot and national security.
“The status of our national security is at a satisfactory level. If a situation like this occurred while there was no riot in the prison, we would also condemn such action and take legal measures against the perpetrators. However, this incident was a planned one. The planning begins from last November 18 at the Welikada prison,” the Minister said.
“There was a disciple of notorious underworld gang leader Samayan, called Chathuranga at the Welikada prison. This prisoner was planning to create this riot in Welikada. Three persons including a jailor involved in planning this riot in Welikada were transferred to different locations. The intelligence services have provided us with phone numbers, via which they planned this riot. It would have occurred in Welikada if the authorities didn't take swift action. They have used a drug on two inmates as a rehearsal to this riot,” the Minister said.
“The two inmates who were drugged cut themselves and the evidence is available in this regard. If you want, you can get this information confirmed from the head of the Welikada prison. Though the authorities were able to prevent one riot, they failed to prevent the one at Mahara. If you look at the footage of the riot, you would see the prison inmates are fighting with each other. If they were having a normal psychological condition, would they have fought with each other? These inmates are using drugs that should be prescribed to patients with mental disorders,” the Minister said.
“If a normal person uses drugs prescribed for serious mental disorders, that person will not know what happened to them. The inmates' behaviours are extremely unnatural. Try finding out what happened to 22,000 types of drugs that were available at the Mahara prison's dispensary. This incident was created using these long prevailing logistic issues. If someone believes that inmates rioted demanding PCR tests, it is a myth. The inmates who joined the riot were not in stable mental condition and they cannot even remember what happened to them. If you are saying national security is threatened based on this isolated incident, it is a joke,” the Minister said.
Mahaviru commemoration cannot be allowed – MP Sarath Fonseka
The Mahaviru commemoration cannot be allowed to take place as the LTTE is a banned organisation locally and in many other countries, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said.
The MP said that even in Wembley, UK when a cut-out of Prabhakaran had been erected, the Counter Terrorism Command Special Operations Branch had removed it “Even these countries don’t allow such terrorism. We have no animosity with the Tamils or Muslims, but we are of the view that separatism cannot be allowed and the country cannot be divided,” the Minister said.
He said that no civilians were killed in the North by the military, but the LTTE had used civilians for their front line bunkers. “When we caught a bunker line in Mannar, a school teacher and five of her students were deployed at that bunker line. We then sent them for rehabilitation. We never killed them. Internationally, it is claimed by the LTTE sympathisers that 40,000 civilians were massacred. That is not true, I admit that perhaps around 5000-6000 may have been killed as the LTTE used civilians to fight. We have seen footage of 70 or 80-year-old people training to fight using broomstick handles. He said that under such circumstances, civilian deaths could not be avoided.
“Instead, we saved the lives of thousands of civilians, and we even rehabilitated 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres,” the MP said.
The MP said that the country cannot rest thinking that the war is over as the flames of separatism and terrorism are still active, as certain incidents can be seen taking place from time to time.
He said that even if there is no war, it is vital for the military to be modernised as the Sri Lanka Army still uses World War II tanks. The Navy does not have any warships although there is an Admiral of the Fleet, he added.
MP Fonseka said that despite several heads being changed, no change has been made to the country’s intelligence networks. He said that for the intelligence services to be properly reorganised and trained, it would take at least around five years. The MP said that despite claims by certain heads that the intelligence services have been revamped and now the country is secured, it is a foolish claim as there is much to be done to bring our intelligence units up to the international standards.
Defence Expenditure Head passed
The Defence Ministry Expenditure Head was passed by a majority of 132 votes in Parliament yesterday with 137 votes in favour and five votes against.
The Committee Stage Debate of the Budget 2021 was held for the 10th day yesterday and the Defence Ministry expenditure head was taken up for debate yesterday.
At the end of the debate, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Selvarajah Gajendran called for a vote and the vote was taken.
Among those who voted against were MP Selvarajah Gajendran, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Govindan Karunaharan, and Vino Nogaradhalingam.
At the time of the vote, only Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ishak Rahuman was present and he voted in favour, while the rest of the SJB members were not in the House.
