Joint Crime Prevention Task Force

A special Crime Prevention Task Force is to be set up by the Ministry of Justice and Law Reform in conjunction with the Defence Ministry with the aim of ushering in a peaceful environment for the public to lead a life free of fear and tension, with the end of the three decades long war, a release from the Justice and Law Reform Ministry states.

The Task force will comprise all Heads of Departments of the two Ministries. The Task Force will meet once a month and make an assessment of the progress and promptly take remedial steps where necessary, the release states. In addition it will also take steps to bring in the necessary reforms in the law and judicial system.

The decision was taken following preliminary discussions held between Justice and Law Reform Minister Milinda Moragoda and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The need for such a mechanism was felt after taking into account the steep rise in incidents of serious crime in the recent times and the necessity to instill public trust in the law and justice system with the dawn of peace in the country, the release adds.