Give up or face consequences: Sarath Weerasekara

• President Rajapaksa instructed me to give priority to eliminate all forms of dastardly acts of crime in the country

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The newly appointed Cabinet Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara yesterday gave a stern warning to the members of the underworld, drug kingpins, ransom takers and other criminals to give up their evil acts or face the consequences. 

Addressing the media and top officials of the Police Department after assuming office at ‘Suhurupaya’ (Smart Tower) at Battaramulla last morning, Minister Weerasekara said that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government was determined to put an end to all forms of organized crimes and crimes of serious nature in the country such as pre-planned murders, rapes, abductions, ransom taking, drug peddling, highway robberies and even the crimes done using the technology.

“President Rajapaksa instructed me to give priority to eliminate all forms of dastardly acts of crime in the country when he appointed me as the Cabinet Minister of Public Security. I am determined to do it. I would like to give a warning in no uncertain terms to all underworld characters, IRCs, thugs, drug dealers, ransom takers, abductors, rapists and others who resort to committing serious acts of violence and crimes creating an unsafe social environment and fear psychosis among innocent and law-abiding people to give up your criminal acts. If you are not ready to take this opportunity given to correct yourself, the law enforcement agencies of the government would destroy you all. I don’t think exterminating those who continue to commit organized and serious crimes a sin,” Minister Weerasekara emphasized.

“President Rajapaksa wants a country with people who live in peace and harmony with no fear or suspicion. Our history says that there was a time in Lanka that a young girl could travel alone from Point Pedro to Deundara point safely with a blue sapphire in her hand. He would like to see a Sri Lanka with a similar environment with the elimination of all forms of crime,” he said.

He also said particular attention would be given to a new trend of crimes that commit using the web.
“There are complaints in large numbers to the effect that how some unsuspecting young girls fall victim to pseudo lovers or criminals who promise to marry them use the victim as a pawn to earn a fast buck. What they do is to force the girl to pose nude before a camera. Later they blackmail them saying that if she did not pay the cash or jewellery he demands, the pictures would be posted on the web. We treat this as a very serious crime and we show no mercy on these criminals. Recalling an incident that exposes how even school girls get addicted to drugs, Minister Weerasekara said a school principal has told him that a teacher who complained about the use of ‘Ice’ by some students of a girls’ school, she had been threatened by the drug peddler. The government expects the cooperation and support to the fullest from the public in our drive to put an end to serious crimes and drug menace and make Sri Lanka a beautiful and peaceful country,” Minister Weerasekara noted.

He added that criminals and underworld characters who have illegal weapons in their possession would be given a grace period to hand over them to the Police. After the moratorium islandwide raids would be conducted to apprehend illegal weapons and those criminals who are in possession of them.

The Police Department will be further strengthened to deal with serious crimes and ‘Civil Defense Committees’ will be formed in each village in the country to keep a watchful eye on crimes in the village like during the war times to work in close cooperation with the respective Police Station.

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There are complaints in large numbers to the effect that how some unsuspecting young girls fall victim to pseudo lovers or criminals who promise to marry them use the victim as a pawn to earn a fast buck. What they do is to force the girl to pose nude before a camera. Later they blackmail them saying that if she did not pay the cash or jewellery he demands, the pictures would be posted on the web. 
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A school principal said that a teacher who complained about the use of Ice by some students of a girls’ school, she had been threatened by the drug peddler. 

• We treat this as a very serious crime and we show no mercy on these criminals. Recalling an incident that exposes how even school girls get addicted to drugs