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by Uditha Kumarasinghe

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday said that she will take every possible attempt to rebuild the country's deteriorating law and order situation with the assistance of the Police.

She made these remarks at a discussion held at President's House with all Police OICs, IPs and SIs attached to the Sri Lanka Police Inspectors' Association (SLPIA) to overcome their problems and extend their cooperation to safeguard the country's law and order. Acting IGP Indra de Silva and Interior Ministry Secretary M.N. Junaid attended the discussion.

The President pledged her fullest cooperation to the Police officers to overcome their problems. She highlighted the importance of increasing the number of posts in the Police Department in order to take action on the promotions of IPs and other Police officers. She also pointed out the report formulated in 1999 regarding this.

The President said the law and order situation in the country has deteriorated at present. If the Police allow politicians to interfere into their activities, this country will face further destruction.

The President said she has never taken revenge on any Police officer based on politics. " I had to take actions against some Police officers who were unjustifiably involved in their duties. But these actions were never taken based on politics.

She said the Police should determine to do a sublime service to the society with OICs having the highest responsibility in this regard. During the past 30 years, various forms of violence and terror were created in the country. In some instances, violence affected to the entire society. This has influenced even the minds of small children. Therefore immediate measures have to be taken to overcome this situation, she said. The President said she does not believe certain complaints made that some Police officials take bribes in order to protect those who have engaged in various crimes and illegal activities. " If we love our motherland and our future generation, Police officials should be honestly dedicated to perform their duties."

During the past two years, the law and order situation of the country has collapsed. During the past few months, a large number of vehicles have been hijacked even in Colombo and its suburbs. Information has been received that many of these vehicles have been sold by these racketeers to the LTTE in Wanni.

The selling of and illicit liquor have also narcotics spread throughout the country. " Therefore I will commence a special programme in collaboration with Police to combat the consumption of illicit liquor."

"All Police officers should honestly do their duties without surrendering to any political interferences.

As the person who is in charge the Police for about eight years, I have never given orders to the Police to do unnecessary things," she said.

The President's Fund offers scholarships to the children of Government employees.

Arrangements have been made to offer 200 local and foreign scholarships this year. Of them, children of Police officers will also be given acertain amount of scholarships. Steps will also be taken to provide houses to the Police officers' she said.

The President requested the Sri Lanka Police Inspectors Association to formulate a code of conduct and expressed her fullest cooperation for that.

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