Community policing training: Certificates for 30 police officers

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The third batch comprising 30 senior police officers who successfully completed a training program in community policing work was awarded certificates recently.

British High Commissioner John Rankin, Scottish police trainers, Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon and officials from the Defence Ministry and Asia Foundation took part in the event at the police headquarters in Colombo recently. The training program was conducted by the Sri Lanka Police in collaboration with the Scotish government for the third time.

The first batch of six senior police officers were trained in community policing work in Scotland in 2007.

Chairman Community Policing and Senior DIG Administration Gamini Navaratne said 25 trainers, 20 ASPs and OICs have been trained in community policing work so far. He said senior DIGs have been instructed to monitor the progress of community policing in the country.

IGP Illangakoon said 25 police inspectors and senior police officers who earlier completed the program were also trained by Scottish Police specialist Bruce Wilne and others. “Those officers are now conducting training programs in community policing in their areas", he said.

The IGP thanked the British High Commission and the Scottish government for sponsoring the program and Bruce Milne for the excellent job done.

“This was not the first time that the British High Commission came forward to help the Sri Lanka police officers. In the past too, they have sponsored various training programs such as the Overseas Command Course.

“We appreciate their continuous support and look forward to such assistance in the future as well,” he said.

He said eradication of terrorism has paved the way to implement such programs in the country. Citizens of the country will be able to reap the benefits of this program and live in a crime-free society,” he said. Scotish trainer Mike Kneeshaw said he was glad to note the willingness and enthusiasm shown by police officers to follow the course.

Advisor to the Ministry of Defence Sanjaya Colonne said due to the conflict that stretched for more than three decades, policing and civil administration suffered a great deal. “It was in 2006, on the initiative of the Ministry of Defence that the British High Commissioner agreed to provide help for policing development.

The community policing program initiated by the Scottish police in 2009 has blossomed into a productive enterprise”, he said.

High Commissioner Rankin thanked the IGP for helping British nationals who visit Sri Lanka to live in the country without fear of crime. He said the UK and Scottish governments will continue to support community policing in Sri Lanka.