A regular monthly feature in future:

Rs 14m in rewards for 631 police personnel

by Sarath MALALASEKERA

Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon distributed nearly Rs.14 million as rewards among 631 police personnel who had brought honour to the Police department, by rounding up and prosecuting several suspects who were involved in the bombing of the Central Bank, hard drug trafficking, possession of explosives and those involved in the killing of innocent people in the country.

As mark of recognition a special award was given to the CID team who were responsible for conducting investigations and prosecution of suspects, including LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who were involved in the attack on the Central Bank building on January 31, 1996.

Prabhakaran and several others were prosecuted before the then Colombo High Court Judge late Sarath Ambepitiya.

After a lengthy trial Prabhakaran (in absentia) was sentenced to 200 years rigorous imprisonment and others who were sentenced to life imprisonment.

This was the first occasion that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was sentenced in any Court of law, a senior police officer said.

The CID team led by the then DIG Punya de Silva and investigations conducted by the then CID Senior SP Asoka Wijetilleke obtained the assistance of the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), India in order to compare the fingerprints of LTTE leader Prabhakaran.

Prabhakaran’s fingerprints were found on a plaque recovered at a residence of one of the suspects who was taken into custody in connection with the bombing of the Central Bank in the Kilinochchi area.

Forty-two police personnel received commendation certificates while four personnel received salary increments.

”It is a great moment today as the Police department got the opportunity to recognise the Police personnel who had brought honour to the department, by taking in the underworld suspects who were a menace to the society by arresting and prosecuting them in courts” said IGP Illangakoon addressing the award winners at the Police Crime Division Headquarters auditorium.

In the future Police personnel who get involved in the detection and arrest of most wanted suspects will be rewarded monthly, said the IGP.

This is a new concept of the IGP Illangakoon to recognize Police personnel who are actively involved in detecting the underworld criminals in the country, in order to maintain peace.

The award winners were from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Intelligence Section, STF, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), President’s Security Division (PSD), Police Special Branch and Police stations in Kantale, Ratnapura, Negombo, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Vavuniya, Nugegoda, Kelaniya, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Colombo South and Kuliyapitiya.

The IGP has alerted all the police divisions in the country in order to eradicate the drug menace from the country keeping with “Mathata Thitha” concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and ably supported by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The “Mathata Thitha” is a valuble gift given to the country, the IGP said.

A large quantity of heroin and ganja has been detected in the Western Province, the IGP said.

Senior DIGs Gamini Navaratne, Nandana Munasinghe, Asoka Wijetileke were associated with the IGP at the head table.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Crimes Director Senior SP Ranjith Padmasiri and the program was conducted by Inspector Abeysinghe.

Several Senior DIGs, DIGs, Senior SPs, SPs and other officials were also participated at the award ceremony.