In response to a recent surge in shootings within the Southern Province, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon convened a critical meeting today with senior police officers to address the escalating violence that has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries across the region.
The meeting, held today, brought together senior officers from the Galle and Elpitiya Police Divisions in light of recent incidents, including the tragic shooting of a public health inspector in the Elpitiya police area on February 26, 2024, and the shootings in Pitigala and Ambalangoda on March 11, which claimed the lives of several individuals and left others injured.
Joined by the Senior Deputy Inspector General of the Southern Province and the Deputy Inspector General of Police overseeing the Galle District, as well as senior police officials, discussions during the meeting centered on formulating effective strategies to combat crime and address any existing shortcomings within law enforcement operations.
The IGP issued directives for immediate action to apprehend those responsible for the shootings and prevent future occurrences of such crimes. Emphasis was placed on the crucial role of various police divisions and specialized units, including the Criminal Investigation Department, Crime Record Division, Colombo Crime Division, Community Police Division, Police Special Task Force, and Intelligence Division, in addressing the recent spate of violence.
Officers were instructed to enhance collaboration, share information, and execute their duties diligently to tackle the prevailing challenges effectively. Additionally, the IGP emphasized that investigations would be conducted to assess the performance of police officers in handling recent incidents. Any misconduct revealed during these investigations will result in disciplinary action against the responsible officers.
