President says police to undergo reforms

• Says Police doing commendable job in tackling illicit drugs despite while facing many odds
• Reforms will aim to building favourable image of police
• 85,000 force over worked and underpaid 
• 30 police stations did not have single vehicle when he took over
  
   

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Police Department which is actively engaged in cracking down on illicit drugs will undergo several changes this year, President Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament yesterday.

President Maithripala Sirisena

Taking part in the Committee Stage Program of Budget 2019, President Sirisena said the main focus of the program will be to build up a favourable image and widen the public acceptance of all units and divisions of the police force with its 85,000 personnel.

“The Special Task Force and drug prevention units have done a commendable service combatting the drug menace in this country. However, we don’t have the required equipment for the necessary detection of drugs. Large quantities of drugs were detected by our officers without any of this high-tech equipment but mainly based on their intelligence and commitment,” the President said.While appreciating the police personnel for risking their lives for the country, the President added that while developed countries use state of the art technology and equipment to fight the war against drugs, Sri Lanka’s anti narcotic units have to do with outdared weapons no longer to stop such activities. Accepting the fact that a life of a policeman in Sri Lanka is not an easy task and differs from the working hours of any other state employee, the President said these personnel need to be regularly appreciated and encouraged.

“They spend 12 hours on the streets in the scorching heat and during other adverse weather conditions risking their own health. It’s been only three months since I took over the Police force. We need to appreciate their commitment. They hardly get a fitting salary for the hard work they perform,” he added stating that there were 30 police stations in the country without a single vehicle at their disposal when he took over the department. (AH)