Sri Lanka’s Police Media Division Director, SSP Jaliya Senaratne, has told reporters that police officers are permitted to use firearms during the election period “even in the event of a death”.

Over 69,000 Sri Lankan police officers have been deployed for election duties today, whilst it has been announced that military personnel will be deployed in the Northern and Eastern provinces as parliamentary polls opened this morning.

According to Senaratne;

“Police officers are able to use their weapons and action can be taken in line with the provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code, on the grounds of personal safety. In the case of a theft for instance, these powers can be used to defend their actions even in the event of a death”.

He further states that when making an arrest, Sri Lanka’s security forces may use “necessary and just power” but admits that the “extent of these powers have not been stipulated”. Ultimately, it will be at the “discretion of officers, depending on the situation”, he concludes.

Under Sri Lankan law police are enabled to disperse unlawful assemblies, a power which is wielded at the officer’s discretion.                                                                                                                                    

Police Legal Division Director, SSP Ruwan Gunasekara, reports that mobile observers were deployed in every Police division. They have been equipped with cameras to record any violations of law. He further stated that illegal election pamphlets would be investigated and that CCTV footage, which would be present at polling station, would also be used during investigations.

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