News
Policing evolving to involve more in neighbourhoods
View(s):Community policing evolved into another form in Sri Lanka when the police introduced vigilance groups at the end of last year as a trial.
The event at Kochchikade
Under this mechanism, police are tasked with liaising with the people and they are given bicycles for their work.
In the Divisional Secretary areas of Negombo, Katana, and Divulapitiya covering 31 villages, vigilance committees have been established.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Saman Sigera, recently spoke to 700 vigilance committee members at the Kanwel reception hall, Daluwakotuwa, Kochchikade.
He said committees will help narrow the gap between the police and the people.
There are such committees in the 14,022 Grama Seva Divisions.
“We have a police force of 85,000, but ours is a multi-purpose service. It is quite different from others. We have professionals like engineers, professors, lecturers, nurses, drivers, masons. Apart from upholding law and order, we also have to protect the VIPs, diplomats, and the courts, too,’’ he said.
While encouraging people to join the committees, he said six police officers have been assigned to build relationships between the community and the police.
“They will have to stay in contact with the village temple, church, kovil, and the school, and be aware of what is going on in their area.’’
Anyone who has a complaint, can call the police officer assigned to the community and avoid coming to the police station, he said.
A special memento was given to SSP Sigera by Chief Inspector, Kochchikade Police Station, Shrinika Jayakody, for efforts to contain the coronavirus in the Kochchikade police area where the first death was reported in Sri Lanka.
The occasion was organised by Chief Inspector Rohana Silva of Kochchikade Police with other officials and vigilance committee members.
Pix and text by K.L.Richard Walter Perera
