Police expansion drive in North and East

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Following the defeat of terrorism in 2009 the Government began to open police stations in the Northern and Eastern provinces to resettle people who have been displaced by the conflict and also to re-establish civil administration in these areas to extend the rule of law to people who have been persecuted by LTTE terrorists for almost three decades.

Even before the conclusion of the conflict several police stations were opened in the Eastern and Northern provinces. The Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) program directed the Inspector General of Police to open the Pooneryn police station last year. Pooneryn that lies on the A-32 causeway linking with Jaffna became the focal point when State machinery was being set up there. Pooneryn was a notorious LTTE stronghold, from where artillery shells were fired as the State troops marched northwards from Mannar.

Senior DIG Northern Province Nimal Leuke told the Sunday Observer that all police stations except Pallai have been opened. Nine police stations in Jaffna and the KKS have been re-opened and people are gradually getting used to the law enforcement procedure in these areas. "We have detected over 5,000 traffic violation cases in Jaffna alone but would institute court action only against 10 percent of the offenders. Others would be rehabilitated eventually by affording them an opportunity to attend traffic lessons," he said.He said people in the North are getting used to the rule of law and law enforcement procedures after undergoing harsh punishment under the rule of LTTE terrorists. People are also being educated to protect their jewellery and other valuables from thieves. "We have enlisted the cooperation of the State banks such as the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank to educate people to protect their gold jewellery. "He said following the elimination of the LTTE, people now look up to the Police and the Security Forces to find solutions for their day-to-day problems such as water facilities. The Police and the Security Forces have assisted them in numerous ways to find solutions to their burning problems.

Police have set up a special unit to fight crime and vice and to maintain a close interaction with the resettled people. Policemen in the Northern Province have been deployed to this Special Criminal Intelligence Unit. The unit is tasked with carrying out patrolling and mobile services in almost all areas in the province including the main Jaffna-Kandy A-9 Highway. With the introduction of several programs by police there is a drop in the level of crime in the Province.

The Police have also set up Development Committees in every police station in the province while sports and recreational activities have improved with the establishment of youth organisations in each village. Police officers in the Northern Province have improved their skills in detecting, investigating, and reporting crimes. Officers who are qualified in the traffic laws have been posted to all police stations on the A-9 Highway as Traffic OICs and a special program has been implemented to educate the public on the traffic code.

Under a scheme initiated by the IGP, around 1,000 Police personnel from various parts of the country have been selected to follow a basic five-month course in Tamil to understand the problems of Tamil-speaking people. In addition, around 650 Tamil youth from the Northern Province have been selected as police constables and 450 are being screened before recruitment.

Senior DIG Leuke said following the LTTE's elimination a tourism boom has begun in the Northern Province where over 100,000 people visit historic sites daily such as the Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple and the Keerimalai springs. Hotel room rates have soared to Rs. 6,000 per day. With the opening of the A-9 highway, the Northern region, especially the Jaffna peninsula, has become a hub of activity with tourists and businesses. Business is booming in the Northern Province.

Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya, after opening the new Police Station at Pooneryn said that many other new Police Stations will be opened soon in the North. He said the new police stations were being set up under the Government's Uthuru Vasanthaya program on the initiative of the President, Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa.

He said foundation stones for the proposed new police stations at Mankulam and Kilinochchi were laid and the work would be completed within six months under the sponsorship of the private sector. The IGP also said the existing buildings were utilised to open the Pooneryn police station which was the last police outpost along the A-32 Road.

He said nearly 10,000 people have resettled in Pooneryn and the resettlement program is progressing rapidly with people busy rebuilding their homes and restarting their agriculture, fishing and other vocations with great enthusiasm.

They were motivated with a sense of security and protection with the setting up of the new police stations, he said. The Divisional Secretary of Pooneryn, and the Commander of the 66 Division and several police and other service officers attended the opening ceremony.
 

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