Police plans on over 500 new recruits for East

[August 21, 2003 - 10.30 GMT]

“The Government is taking independent action to strengthen security in the East with the recruitment of 550 Police officers,” Cabinet spokesman G L Peiris told media today.

“The armed forces also have been instructed to act vigorously with regard to the security situation in the East,” he said.

Tensions triggered off in the East last Thursday after Two Muslim youth were killed, allegedly by the LTTE.

Walk-in interviews will be held among residents of the Eastern Province on August 23 and 24 at Muttur, Akkaraipattu, Ampara, Kalmunai, Pottuvil, Batticaloa and Tricomalee areas to pick 50 reserve Sub Inspectors and 500 reserve police constables.

When asked if the whole Government shares the same feeling of confidence as the SLMC, that the LTTE is behind the recent killings of Muslims in the East, Professor Peiris was noncommittal and said whoever was responsible, law and order must be maintained.

“I don’t have all the facts at my command; therefore I am not in a position to make a judgement as to who is responsible,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission spokesperson Agnes Bragadottir said a meeting between the SLMM, the LTTE and the SLMC would take place in the East on Monday, August 25, in an attempt to stabilise the situation there.

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Last Updated Date: August 21, 2003  -10.30 GMT.