New police station for Hambantota Port

Friday, 11 December 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Senior DIG of Police for the Southern Province Rohan J. Silva, HIPS CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme, HIPG CEO Ray Ren, and other police officers from the Hambantota Police Station at the opening of the new building

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) has built a new police station with the capacity to house over 40 police personnel within the port premises. The new fully-equipped station would replace the small police post that functioned previously in the port; allowing officers at the new facility to widen their reach in policing, especially when port activities are on the rise.

Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS) CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme says harbour engineers handled the construction of the new building, while HIPS provided funding.

“It is a 2,050 square metre building complete with lock-ups, offices, barracks, OIC quarters, etc. to help the police force to expand their operations within the port. By Sri Lankan law it is a must for all ports to have a police presence within the harbour, which is why we had a minor post already in place. But we saw the need for an upgrade so officers can do their job with ease. Now we have a fully-fledged harbour police station in place, which is mutually beneficial for the port and the police force.”

The new station had a soft opening recently, with Senior DIG of Police for the Southern Province Rohan J. Silva gracing the occasion. Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme and HIPG CEO Ray Ren were also present. A full contingent of police presence is expected at the premises soon, and supervision of the port, which is currently under the Hambantota Police, will transfer to the new station.

HIPG CEO Ray Ren said that they will support this expansion with all infrastructure facilities as it was important for Sri Lanka law enforcement personnel to be fully operational within the harbour premises. “As much as the maritime security given by the Sri Lanka Navy is important, it is also necessary for the Sri Lanka Police to have a larger presence within the harbour premises. This will definitely help civil security and maintenance of law and order.”

HIPS CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme planting a mango tree at the inauguration of the police station within the Hambantota Port premises

HIPG CEO Ray Ren planting a mango tree at the inauguration of the police station within the Hambantota Port premises

The newly constructed police station