'Police played key role'

Contributions made by the Police in war victory are not meager and it would not be forgotten by the people for a long time, said Parliamentary Affairs Secretary to the President Kumarasiri Hettige.

He said while the three Security Forces and the Civil Defence Force executed the tasks assigned to them in the war effort, the services rendered by the Police in protecting the people and their property throughout the day have been appreciated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government.

Hettige expressed these views as Chief Guest at a ceremony held Battaramulla recently to pay tributes to Daya Samaraweera who retired from the Police Service as Deputy Inspector General of Police after serving 35 years.Police officers are entrusted with discretionary powers not being enjoyed by most government servants. Abuse of such powers would do harm to the society. Among institutions that administer justice police holds a unique place. f justice is not meted out at the correct time and in a reasonable manner, it would pose a great problem.