Jaffna District MP R. Archuna has asked police and defence authorities for permission to bring three non‑lethal pepper‑spray devices into Sri Lanka for personal protection after returning from abroad.
In a letter to Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya dated October 18, the MP said he purchased a revolver‑style unit, a pistol‑style unit and a long‑range spray and was unaware that Sri Lankan customs regulations require prior authorization for importing such devices. He requested that the police take custody of the items on arrival, maintain a proper chain of custody and carry out a security assessment before handing them over to him.
According to a response relayed to MP Archuna by Acting Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne on October 23, the IGP’s office cited a Ministry of Defence security assessment that found no specific threat from extremists, terrorists or organised crime and rated the MP’s risk level as minimal. The Acting Secretary General therefore directed Archuna to obtain direct approval from the Ministry of Defence for the import and customs clearance.
The reply also noted that, where credible intelligence indicates an elevated risk to a lawmaker, the Ministry may consider issuing a state‑owned firearm under a free firearms licence — a measure separate from the import of privately purchased non‑lethal devices. The matter remains pending while the MP seeks the required authorisations.
