Sri Lanka offers expertise at UNCOPS 2024 to counter global crime

Colombo, June 29 (Daily Mirror) - Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said at the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2024) that Sri Lanka is willing to contribute police, gendarmerie and criminal justice experts to combat global organized crime, gang violence and illicit economies to any host nation.

The UNCOPS was held at the UN Headquarters, with the theme ‘Preventing Conflicts and Violence and Maintaining Peace’ where Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles represented Sri Lanka.

In his address, Minister Alles highlighted the increasing complexity and diversity of threats to peace, noting the rise in violent conflicts over the last two decades and the critical concern of civilian protection in conflict-ridden areas. He emphasized the challenges posed by advanced technologies, including cyber-security, autonomous weapons systems and the abuse of ICT for criminal purposes.

Minister Alles congratulated UN peace operations for effectively meeting these challenges and expressed appreciation for the Secretary-General's ‘New Agenda for Peace.’ He recalled Sri Lanka's longstanding commitment to UN Peacekeeping, with over 21,000 Sri Lankan peacekeepers having contributed to various operations since the Suez war.

He assured that the Sri Lanka formed Police Unit, at Readiness Level three, is equipped to handle the emerging security landscape. He also stressed the rise of organized crime, gang violence and illicit economies as growing challenges to international peace, urging the UN to deploy specialised police teams to counter these threats.

"Sri Lanka is willing to contribute police, gendarmerie and criminal justice experts with experience and skills to counter such threats and to share the knowledge and experience with any host nation. Sri Lanka stands ready to partner in this noble endeavour," the Minister said