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| Thursday, 22 April 2004 |
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| Creating more people friendly Police is President's aim - New Deputy Minister of Public Security The newly appointed Deputy Minister of Public Security, Law and Order Jayaratne Herath who assumed duties on Tuesday said that he would commit himself fully towards achieving President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's vision of making the Police service, a disciplined force which will act impartially in meting out justice and fair play to all in the task of providing civil security to the people. Mr. Herath accompanied by his wife and son were welcomed on arrival at the office located at the Defence Ministry building by the outgoing Secretary M.N. Junaid and the new Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order Tilak Ranaviraja and staff of the Ministry. Members of the Maha Sangha led by Ven. Vatareka Sumangala Nayaka Thera chanted Pirith and blessed the Deputy Minister and others. Jayaratne Herath was elected to Parliament for the third time from the Kurunegala District at the 2004 April election. He was elected to Parliament at the 2000 and 2001 General Elections as well. He entered politics in 1991 and served as Leader of the Opposition of Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha in 1992, he was elected to the North Western Provincial Council and served as the Leader of the Opposition. In 1994, he was appointed the Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine and Co-Operatives of the North Western Provincial Council - a post he held till he was elected a Member of Parliament in 2000. Mr. Herath took to business after he was discontinued from the Agricultural Department for his involvement in the July strike in 1983 and later took to active politics. He is the chief organiser of the SLFP for the Kurunegala district. Mr. Herath said that the Ministry of Public security, Law and Order will function as a separate Ministry under the President. It was the President's desire that the Police force and law enforcement officers act impartially in all matters in enforcing Law and Order. Their prime task was to ensure security to the public. As they are aware the deterioration of the law and order situation in the country particularly during the past two years had caused grave concern among the people. Particulary after the 2001 General Elections, supporters of the People's Alliance and other parties were harassed through post election violence and afterwards. Even the Presidential Security Division was targeted for harassment. If the Head of Government is harassed in this way the people asked how the Police could mete out justice to the ordinary man. The Police service also became highly politicised during this period to the extent that very often the complainant ultimately became the accused. He said he would discuss with the President and carry out programs to restore public confidence in the Police. He said that he would appeal to all Police personnel to dispense justice and fair play to all people irrespective of their standing. Their aims is to make the Police more people friendly by promoting greater interaction between the people and Police in maintenance of Law and Order but also prevention of crime. The outgoing Secretary M.N. Junaid said that the Ministry was created under a new concept to provide civil security to the people through the Police and other Departments under it. He had no doubt that new Deputy Minister who had wide experience at Pradeshiya, Provincial and Parliamentary level is well attuned to achieve the objectives of the President on behalf of the people. The new Secretary of Public Security, Law and Order Tilak Ranaviraja said that this was the fifth Ministry he is privileged to serve as Secretary. He was grateful to the President for the confidence placed in him by entrusting him with such an important Ministry. Commenting on M.N. Junaid, Ranaviraja said that Mr. Junaid was an exemplary senior administrative officer who has rendered immense service in the public service. He was closely associated with Junaid from his university days and also later joined the regional and general administrative services together. Additional Secretary Ms. Chandra Ekanayake delivered the vote of thanks. |
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