Building honourable, disciplined Police Force IGP’s aim

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: The new Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne stressed yesterday that his aim was to build an honourable, disciplined and respectable Police Department.

Addressing the media for the first time after assuming duties, he said that the Police Department has faced numerous challenges and stands tall to face the future. The Police Force is devoted to protect the country, he said.

“I need the maximum assistance from the media of this country. The media has assisted me for the last several years. I appeal to them to continue with the same support in the future,” the IGP added.

IGP Wickremaratne assumed duties after participating in religious ceremonies. Retired Senior Police personnel, Government Officers, Senior DIGs. DIGs, Senior SPs , SPs, ASPs and other ranks of officers were present at the ceremony yesterday held at the IGP’s chambers.

The IGP also paid a tribute to police personnel who scarified their lives in the ongoing war to protect the country.

The IGP emphasised that Policemen who sacrificed their lives on behalf of the nation should be highly rewarded. “We have made arrangements to improve the welfare of the Police officers, specially their health conditions.

Some officers are suffering from serious illness. In future all those policemen will be treated by specialist medical personnel.

The Police Department has established the Strategic Development Division which has revived the community policing process, the IGP said. All police information for the media could be obtained from the Police spokesman, the IGP said.

Police personnel should learn all three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English to meet the public demand.

A law abiding force should be produced in order to build a peaceful nation, the IGP said.

Quoting several incidents that occurred in the country IGP Wickremaratne said that the Department also has “bad eggs”, but just because one person did a wrong act, it was very unfair to put the blame on the entire police department.

“We do our best to maintain law and order in the country for the best interest of the law abiding public.”

The IGP said that the Police Force can proudly claim a fair share in the ongoing successful efforts to eradicate terrorism with the assistance extended to the Three Forces fighting the LTTE.

In the last one and half years the Police personnel have recovered 1000 kilos of explosives from several areas in Colombo division and 300 TNT kilos from the Nuwara Eliya District.

The grievances among the rank and file will be looked into and rank to rank promotions will be expedited. The good work of Police officers will be duly recognised, the IGP added.