SLAS recruits from N-E undergo police training

by H.L. Sunil Shantha - Kalutara Central Spl. Cor.

The first batch of SLAS (Sri Lanka Administrative Services) Trainees, from Northern and Eastern Provinces, was recruited for a training at Kalutara recently. Under this new program, 29 (twenty nine) Tamil medium young graduates (Tamils) and 14 (fourteen) Muslim graduates were recruited for a 10-day full time residential training course at the Sri Lanka Police Training College, Palathota, Kalutara on April 16 and their inaugural seminar was held on 17 at the Kalutara Police Training School (KPTS) with the participation of the KPTS Director SSP Sanjeewa Dharmarathna, Deputy Director S.B. Hettiarachchi, KPTS Senior Lecturer Police Inspector Mr. Sunil Kumara and several other senior Police Officers.

The Chief Course-Co Ordinating Trainer was the ALIDA. Additional Director M. Thilakasiri, who had designed the training with the IGP Mr. N.K. Ilangakoone a few days back.

Addressing the - Tamil speaking participants in English KPTS Director Mr. Sanjeewa Dharmarathna said that the newly recruited SALAS Trainees are really lucky to be employed in the high ranking positions to serve in their areas where they were residing after the end of this much valuable training program which was commenced by the government with the co-operation of the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs.

Dharmaratne said that all the trainees are expected to serve in Tamil speaking areas in the positions of GAs, AGAs, District Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Administrative Officers (AOs), Assistant Administrative Officers and Directors etc in their respective Offices. The 10 day training programme is due to end on the 26th April.

Sanjeewa, at his seminar stressed the importance of communicating with the general public both in Sinhala and English apart from Tamil, their mother tongue. He pointed out the possibility of meeting Sinhala speaking innocent people who might consult an Administrative Officer regarding a particular urgent matter while they (newly recruited SLAS officers) serve in Tamil speaking areas and the necessity for learning the Sinhala language was also highlighted.