The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence has issued over 3,000 licenses to individuals to bear firearms in the country and training on the use of weaponry, reports the Sunday Leader.
“Politicians, security force personnel and leading businessmen” were amongst those who received the licenses, with around 200 of those people reportedly receiving training at the Special Task Force (STF) camp in Katukurunda.
UNP Mahiyanganaya organiser Pradeep Wijewardena, one of those who received training from the STF told the Sunday Leader that training involved the “handling and usage of the weapons” and “on the instances that these weapons can be used”.
Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the names of those who had underwent training was being kept secret.
Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force provides weapons training to politician and businessmen (12 Apr 2015)
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
