The JHU MP Champika Ranawaka on Friday urged the government not to devolve police powers to the provincial councils arguing that such a move would like to violent groups and terrorism.
“We don’t have the practicality to devolve police powers only because some NGOs and elements depending on foreign funds request to do so. The best option is to recruit Tamil speaking officers who have the knowledge of the Tamil culture to the police service. The new government has recruited such officers in abundance. The solution to the national question is not devolution of police powers but the recruitment of Tamil speaking officers,” he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.
Drawing attention to the origin of the call to devolve police powers being in the 13th Amendment, Mr Ranawaka said India was an illustration of why this was a bad idea.
“What is happening in India today? There are terrorist groups in at least 14 States. One of the main obstacles the authorities have to face when fighting terrorists is devolution of police powers among different states. This is a blow to the law and order of that country,” he added.