News
Police have only a handful of bad eggs – Sarath
By Saman Indrajith
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament yesterday that it was unfair to blame the entire police force for the sins of a few errant cops.
Participating in an adjournment debate, the minister said that he would stand by police personnel and assured the House that all necessary action had been taken to maintain discipline in the Police Department.
The Minister said that the motion moved in the House said that the general public had lost their trust in the police after some policemen were found to be involved in illegal activities.
The police today had around 90,000 personnel attached to 494 stations countrywide, the minister said. “The percentage of police personnel found engaged in acts of indiscipline so far is less than one percent. Therefore, I do not agree with any statement to the effect that discipline has deteriorated in the entire service. There is a mechanism within the police service to maintain the discipline of policemen in keeping with the Constitution, the Establishments Code, Police Orders and Regulations, the Police Ordinance, Circulars and Standing Orders. As we know the first COVID-19 infected person was found in this country on March 11, last year and since then the entire police service has been all out to prevent the spread of the virus while performing their regular duties. Since the outbreak of the pandemic to date 23,720 policemen and women had undergone quarantine and of them 6,911 had been infected. Fourteen policemen including five officers of the inspectorate grade had died of Covid-19.
Statistics showed that charge sheets had been issued for various disciplinary actions to 166 policemen in 2018, 274 in 2019, 333 in 2020 and 112 so far this year. There are reports of 153 policemen committing crimes in 2018, 158 in 2019, 164 in 2020 and 92 so far in this year. As for drug related offences involving the police, there were 18 policemen in 2018, 15 in 2019, 44 in 2020 and 15 so far this year. “Taken together these offenders do not exceed one percent of the entire cadre strength of the police service including the STF commandos. The fact one should not forget is that these offenders within the service have been captured by policemen themselves,” the minister said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
USA’s Ali Khan claims having been ‘denied’ India visa ahead of T20 World Cup
At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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