News
STF to be removed from prison and highway security; re-deployed in drug operations
View(s):By Damith Wickramasekara
The Government is to carry out a phased withdrawal of more than 600 Special Task Force (STF) personnel who have been providing security to the outer perimeters of prisons.
The Justice Ministry has agreed to a request by the Public Security Ministry for the move. The STF is presently deployed for outer perimeter security at several prisons countrywide, and the Public Security Ministry feels that they could be put to better use, a senior official said on grounds of anonymity.
With the freeze in public sector recruitment, the STF, too, must prioritise the deployment of its existing manpower.
“These personnel are only performing minor duties such as checking visitors to the prisons,” the official, who is from the Public Security Ministry, said. “But the STF have recently increased operations against drug traffickers and the underworld. And it is a waste to keep so many STF officers outside prisons when they could be deployed for these operations.”
Under the phased withdrawal starting next month, STF personnel will leave Welikada, Angunukolapelessa and several other prisons. They will, however, continue to maintain security on the outer perimeter of the Boosa Prison which houses a large number of hardcore criminals and drug traffickers. To make up for the removal of the STF personnel, the Public Security Ministry is training retired military officers to carry out personal checks at prisons.
Separately, STF personnel deployed for security at expressways will also gradually be pulled back.
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