Fingerprinting helps bring culprits to book

Rafik JALALDEEN

Fingerprinting of suspects has contributed a lot to maintain law and order in the country, Fingerprint Bureau Director SSP T.N. Wijegunawardena said.

Addressing the media to commemorate the century celebration of the Fingerprinting Bureau in Sri Lanka, he said the fingerprint method was introduced to the world in 1684 A.D. by Dr. Nehimiya Grew, an European.

"The system was later developed technologically. Identifying persons through fingerprints started in Sri Lanka in 1908, " he added. SSP Wijegunawardena said fingerprinting is a scientifically approved technology to bring culprits to justice.

"Suspects are bailed out or evade punishment due to poor and weak evidence. Fingerprinting is one of the best solutions to bring culprit to book," the SSP said.

The DNA test result of twins will be the same but fingerprints of every individual will be different. Therefore, the fingerprint method is the best solution to identify a culprit," SSP Wijegunawardena said.

SSP Wijegunawardane said the Police Department has taken steps to improve the scientific technology at the department by establishing a computerised system. The IGP will propose to fully equip the Fingerprint Bureau with computers, he said.