Defence Ministry orders law and order, normalcy

Ministry of Defence yesterday said all instructions and orders have been given to the armed forces and the Police to strictly implement the law and order to prevent illegal activities and establish normalcy in the country.

The Secretary of Defence has strongly emphasised that attacking the Police/security force members and inciting the youth community to do such illegal activities, damaging public property and harassing the public is a threat to the normal life of the people.

Accordingly, all instructions and orders have been given to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Tri-Forces Commanders and the Inspector General of Police to strictly implement the law in order to prevent such actions and establish normalcy in the country.

The Defence Ministry noted that two Army soldiers who were on duty at the Battaramulla Parliament Junction during the time of the protest in the evening hours on 13 July, were brutally attacked by a violent group who came to occupy the Parliament complex, using iron rods and poles, until they became unconscious and the T-56 automatic weapons with two filled magazines of those soldiers were stolen.

The Ministry of Defence emphasized that the stealing of the two weapons and the magazines is a serious illegal act and poses a serious threat to the safety of the public. The two soldiers were severely attacked on the face and head and were hospitalized in a very critical condition.

Consequently, under the Public Security Ordinance Act, the Armed Forces have been empowered, and accordingly, the Police and the Armed Forces will work together to maintain law and order in the country under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence and work to ensure national security.