Countrywide police roadblocks from tomorrow

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

The Police Department will deploy over 3,000 policemen in 417 roadblocks countrywide from tomorrow for the seventh Presidential election on Thursday, January 8.

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Observer that the majority of police officers will be deployed in the Western Province as it has more polling stations and a larger voter base.

A strength of 71,100 policemen including 5,000 Police Special Task Force personnel will be deployed for election duties, the highest ever deployment of the police force in election history.

The SSP said 68,000 officers will commence election duties from Tuesday (January 6) in 12,252 polling stations around the country.

About 2,885 police mobile patrol units will cover all polling stations during the election period.

Police roadblocks will remain even a week after the elections are concluded to check post election violence. Fifty-five riots squads and 97 minor riots squads are kept ready for any breach of law and order.