All police officers have been instructed to carry a revolver or a pistol while on duty, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said today.
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, he stated that police officers had continuously faced obstruction in the recent past and that several incidents of officers being assaulted had been reported.
Therefore this decision was taken after taking into consideration the safety and honour of police personnel, he said.
Responding to a query by journalists as to whether the move would adversely affect the public’s safety and freedom, the Police Spokesman stated that no such misuse would take place as even police officers are not allowed to use their service firearms as they please.
The firearm can be used by the respective officer only at highly necessary occasions for their self-defence, he said.
SSP Ajith Rohana stated that in almost every other country police officers always carry a firearm while on duty and that it is nothing new.
