25 civil committees to be set up islandwide
by Jayampathy Jayasinghe
[email protected]
Twenty-five Civil Committees will be set up countrywide in the most
vulnerable places prone to terrorist attacks such as bus stands, railway
stations, schools and housing complexes to protect persons and property.
Of the proposed 25 committees, 14 will be set up in Colombo, Senior
Supdt.of Police, I.M. Karunaratne, Director of the Community Police Unit
told the 'Sunday Observer'.
Civil Committees have already been set up in Colombo and Gampaha and
more will be set up in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Puttalam by the end
of next week. However, all 25 Civil Committees will be set up by
February 25. Over 25,000 persons have already been mobilised to work in
these committees, SSP Karunaratna said.
Under the auspices of Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage the proposed
security plan of the government will include the setting up of these
Civil Committees in 322 Divisional Secretariats and 141,913 Grama
Niladhari Divisions to cover the entire country.
DIG Colombo Range, Nimal Mediweka and Senior Supdt. of Police I. M.
Karunaratne have been appointed to liaise with the Civil Committees. In
addition the two Superintendents of Police have been appointed to
coordinate the work of the Civil Committees in all nine provinces.
Meanwhile 10 policemen, consisting of Sub Inspectors and Police
Constables drawn from 411 police stations in the country will be
attached to the Civil Committees.
In recent times bus stands and railway stations have become
vulnerable to terrorist attacks owing to large numbers of people
congregating in such places. Special hotlines have been set up at the
Police Emergency - 5717171. People can pass information on suspicious
persons via the hotline.
Western Province Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority, J. M.
Somasiri said the security plan is being implemented at the
Goonasinghapura and Bastian bus stands. It will be extended to other bus
stands in the Western Province in due course, he said. |