Over Rs 380 m under Police rewards scheme this year

Vijayani Edirisinghe

Police personnel who had rendered exceptional service in helping the Police Department maintain law and order in the country have received over Rs 380 million as cash rewards from the Department this year.

A speciality in this cash rewards scheme is that it was implemented without burdening the government exchequer through fines imposed or money recovered from the offenders themselves. A special feature of this Police rewards scheme is that informants too are awarded cash prizes in recognition of their assistance towards busting crimes.

The Police Department now has a total cadre of nearly 70,000 personnel. Under this rewards scheme, Police personnel who rendered outstanding service have been able to obtain awards several times in past years.

The cash awards ranged from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 million depending on the service rendered.

Under this scheme, several other personnel receive commendation letters and promotions for their services instead of cash prizes.

New IGP N K Ilangakoon has transformed the annual awards scheme to a monthly scheme where Police personnel are rewarded within the particular month in which he or she had performed the exceptional deed.