Police a friendly service under five year plan

Sarath KUMARA RAJAPAKSE

Mahinda Balasuriya who assumed duties as the 32nd IGP said he is committed to fulfil his responsibilities well by implementing a five year plan to transform the Police service into a friendly professional and dignified Police service.

Under this plan, the Police service will create an environment for all citizens to enjoy a free and independent life. The new IGP said so addressing a press conference at the Kandy DIGs office on Saturday.

Balasuirya said vast responsibilities have been cast on him as the new IGP while implementing the President’s Mahinda Chinthana program. He is bound to carry out the directives issued by the Defence Secretary and the Government while performing these responsibilities. He would work for the welfare of the people and take steps to redress the grievances of his rank and file as well. He expected the support and co-operation of the entire Police force numbering nearly 85,000 to perform these tasks.

He said a copy of his five year plan has been submitted to the President. He would always perform his functions according to the framework of the plan.

Fielding a question raised by a journalist, Balasuriya said he would try to redress the grievances and attend to the needs of the Police force within three months. Promotions would be granted on the basis of merit and seniority.

Steps would also be taken to improve the knowledge and professional standards of the Police force. Several training courses for Policemen have been already launched. A batch of 500 policemen would be selected for a senior investigators training course. Staff attached to crimes divisions of Police stations would be given a months training on crime work. Special emphasis would also be laid on improving discipline among the Police force as discipline had deteriorated to a certain extent lately.

The IGP said his office would be open to the public on Friday between 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. and for Policemen on the first and last Monday every month to personally look into their problems. He also hoped to launch a public relief centre at the Police headquarters which would function round the clock to attend to peoples problems. Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne, DIG Pujith Jayasundara, DIG Jayantha Gammanpila and other officials attended the conference.