The Police will deploy nearly 2,000 recruits from Police Training Colleges across the island for election duty, Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekara said. According to Gunasekara this will be the first time that new recruits will be deployed for election duties. “The decision was taken as the Police intends to deploy officers in full strength to ensure a free and fair election,” he said.
Recruits from the Boralanda, Kalutara, Mahiyanganaya Police colleges were given the necessary training required last week as per the instructions of Acting IGP C.D Wickramaratne. “Some are only into the second month of their training and therefore they were given practical and theoretical knowledge on the Election process and the laws,” he noted. The trainings had been conducted by DIG Ajith Rohana and Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekara.
The Police are set to deploy nearly 60,000 officers to provide security for Presidential Election. The Acting IGP has notified all Police divisions to release all non essential police personnel to be deployed for election related duties.