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)