Minister Weerasekara meets INTERPOL President

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Dr Sarath Weerasekara met with the President of INTERPOL Dr. Ahamed Naser Al Raisi in Dubai, UAE on Thursday (17). Minister Weerasekera and Dr. Al Raisi discussed how to enhance law enforcement cooperation, the minister's office said. 

To mitigate the threat of crime and terrorism, Minister Weerasekera said that the flow of drugs and weapons into the Indian Ocean  region has increased after taliban captured power in Afghanistan on August 15,  2021. Dr. Al-Raisi said that a joint working group will be a timely initiative to counter the surge of drugs and weapons. 

Minister Weerasekera thanked INTERPOL for its support to Sri Lanka in the  aftermath of the Easter Sunday attack. He appreciated INTERPOL's dispatch of several teams both from Lyon and Singapore to investigate the attack alongside  foreign law enforcement partners.

Minister Weerasekera requested INTERPOL's  assistance to build Sri Lankan Police cyber investigative capabilities. Having  recognised threat of terrorism and extremism Dr. Al-Raisi said that INTERPOL will support Sri Lanka's request. 

Minister Weerasekera expressed Sri Lanka's keenness to work with INTERPOL to manage the online threats from transnational crimes.

Minister Weerasekera and Dr Al Raisi recognised the need to move from law enforcement cooperation to collaboration and partnerships. Dr. Al Raisi expressed his appreciation to the President of Sri Lanka for Sri Lanka's support  for his candidature as INTERPOL President.