Defence Secy tells police trainees: Be honest and trustworthy

H L Sunil Shantha, Kalutara Daily News corr and Divakara Mohotti Kalutara

The passing out parade of 194 Sub Inspectors and 90 police constables who passed out from the Kalutara Police Training School (KPTS), was held yesterday (19), with the participation of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and IGP N K Ilangakoon, at the Aluvihare Police Grounds in Kalutara.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

The police ground was filled to capacity with parents, relatives and well-wishers. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the chief guest at the occasion, addressing the gathering, said:

“To maintain and safeguard law and democracy in a country, what was most necessary was the Police Service. It was the police, who was responsible to maintain law and order and protect democracy as well as peace and harmony in a country. Therefore we clearly see that an efficient and trustworthy police service was quite vital to a country today.

He said that foreign investors would specially visit the country, if that country maintained good governance, peace and democracy.

“There are well-educated and academically qualified officers among these passing out trainees. I know you can be really happy that you have gained a good and useful training at this PTS, throughout an year with many difficulties,” he said.

The Defence Secretary further said that soon after several Tamil students had been arrested from the Jaffna University regarding terrorist activities, he had been immediately questioned by the American Ambassador and the NGOs and also some TNA MPs. They had complained that there was no democracy in the country. But at the same time, if a wrong person had been arrested by the police in the south, people accuse the police if any politician interferes with the case.

“You as police officers have the responsibility to look into any unlawful constructions, unlawful activity or any misconduct happening in areas where you work. You can apprehend such wrongdoers at anytime”.

“Politicians are the people’s representative and have a right to look into or question any person arrested by the police. But it does not mean that police personnel or any police officer should be partial to politicians, or politicians should not interfere with the police and release the offenders,” he said. The Defence Secretary urged the police officers to work for a honest, trustworthy and efficient police service which was always people friendly.

The Defence Secretary was presented with a memento by the KPTS, while efficient police trainee officers were also honoured at the ceremony.