Police raise upper age limit for recruitment

Ranil WIJAYAPALA in Galakiriyagama

GALAKIRIYAGAMA: The National Police Commission has given approval to increase the age limit for recruitment of personnel up to 30, IGP Victor Perera said.

Qualified personnel from the Civil Security (Home Guard) Service and Police Assistants will be recruited to the Police service under this new move.

The IGP made this remark addressing a ceremony at the Galakiriyagama Advanced Training School of the Civil Security Department, where 156 Civil Security personnel from various parts of the North-East who had undergone advanced weapons and combat training passed out.

This was the first batch of Home Guards who had undergone this specialised training after they were taken under the Civil Security Department.

They will be deployed as four man and eight man tams to guard their villages ahead of the bunker lines.

According to CCD Chief Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, the number of Home Guards has been increased from 19,200 to 35,400 after the formation of the CCD.

“We have improved the quality of their service by providing them advanced training and more facilities,” Rear Admiral Weerasekara added.

Steps have also been taken to provide compensation for the Civil Security personnel wounded or killed while on duty, as in the Security Forces.