Karapitiya needs new police station

Mahinda P.Liyanage Galle Daily News Corr

People of Karapitiya, Galle and the public who in many thousands come to the emerging city daily for their requirements, vehemently urge the establishment of a permanent police station in place of the existing police post.

Karapitiya, an urban locality in Galle, has within a very short period of time, emerged as a greatly urbanized region with newly set up state institutions and numerous commercial enterprises.

Thousands of people from every corner of Southern Province and even beyond its boundaries, come to this bustling town for their various medical and healthcare necessities as the main state medical institution of the province, the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital is located there. In addition to the government hospital, there is a leading private hospital and several medical centres functioning in the area. The Medical Faculty of Ruhunu University too is situated in Karapitiya, making the locality’s population grow more.

With the swift commercialization of this not so long urbanized territory, branches of the country’s leading banks and financial institutions have also commenced business operations.

In consequence to the fast growth of the area, top business firms have set up their branches and sales outlets to cater to the needs of the people.

Following the speedy growth in population, various offences and crimes are reported in alarming numbers, the public point out.

The Karapitiya Police post, at present temporarily located in a building owned by the Urban Development Authority and functioning under the supervision of Poddala Police, with an inadequate police staff, is incompetent in maintaining law and order in the city, the people complain.

They also allege the authorities are not taking measures to establish a police station, which is a vital need of the people, despite the fact that a suitable plot of land for the purpose had long before been allocated in close proximity to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

When contacted, a higher police official of Galle Police Headquarters, revealed the construction of the proposed Police station had been delayed due to the non- availability of funds.