Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order

The first responsibility of the Ministry was to chart a distinct identify for itself. The Ministry of defence had been responsible for the maintenance of the geographical identity of the state of Sri Lanka. It safeguarded her both from external attack and internal subversion. The primary method was to use weaponry, that is hardware, to achieve its responsibilities. The Ministry of Foreign Affair too was engaged in the same task. Its primary method was diplomacy, that is software (words), to achieve its responsibilities.

The Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order has responsibilities for attending to needs of the inhabitants of Sri Lanka. For this purpose it issues National Identity Cards, the State issued documents which testify to the identity of an individual, for use within Sri Lanka. This is done by the Department of Registration of Persons. The issue of travel documents - the passport - that testifies to the identity of an individual outside Sri Lanka, is done by the Immigration and Emigration Department. This department too manages matters of citizenship and the authorization of the entry and exit at its borders - at the airport and seaports. There are a few conflicts among the inhabitants of Sri Lanka.

They are manage by the Police either as law and order problems. If these conflicts break the laws, an independent body-the Judicial System-adjudicates on them, and imposes penalties. If the penalties are for imprisonment, this is managed by the Department of Prisons, which under the Ministry of Justices and Legal. There is special concern about increased consumption of drugs. This is dealt by a board called the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. While the above deal with inhabitants as individuals their aggregate behaviors are measured by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The Vision and Mission of the Ministry are

Vision

A secure life of freedom in order to optimize the interests of every inhabitant in Sri Lanka.

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Mission

Provide efficient, effective and timely delivery of public management goods and services, to customers in respect of General security, low and order and public order needs, Humane and rehabilitative custodial and non-custodial services, Internal and external documents of identity, visas and citizenship, aggregated information products to assist policy formulation.

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Subjects and Functions

1. Formulate and implement the policies, plans, programmes and projects in respect of Interior and public order through the Department of Police.
2. Prevention and control of dangerous drugs and drug abuses.
3. Civil Security matters relating to explosive and firearms.
4. Management and control of the private security agencies.
5. Management and control of the auxiliary services.
6. Issue of Sri Lanka travel documents through the Department of Immigration & Emigration.
7. Matters relating to citizenship and the prevention of illicit immigration.
8. Implementation of the Indo - Ceylon agreement relating to person of Indian origin, control of entry of foreigners, their stay and employment, temporary residence tax, extradition.
9. Registration of Persons over 16 years of age.
10. Prison administration through the Department of Prison, including training school for religious affairs.

The Department and Statutory Institutions under Ministry are.

Police, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Special Police Reserve, Home Guards, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Department of Registration of Persons, Commissioner for the Registration of persons of Indian Origin.

The Ministry is in governance pertaining to the provision of civil security to the inhabitants of Sri Lanka

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Civil Security Division

The Civil Security Division of the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order comprises the following important subjects.

Home Guard Scheme - Programme 3 - Project 2

Training in Security - Programme 3 - Project 2

Activities relating to the Control of Explosives - Programme 3 - Project 2

Implementation of the provisions of the Firearms Ordinance

Implementation of the provisions of the Regulation of Private Security Agencies Act No.45 1998.

Apart form the projects 1, 2, 3 mentioned above for which performance reports appear separately, the Civil Security Division is responsible for the following impotent areas of activity.

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Implementation of the Provisions of the Firearms Ordinance

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order functions as the Licensing Authority for the firearms. The Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order adopts a very strict policy regarding the issue of firearms for purpose of self defence, thereby minimizing the spread of firearms within the country.

A continuous scheme is in operation for the provision of shotguns for purpose of crop protection. This scheme operates in liaison with the District Secretaries / Government Agents and the firearms are issued on their recommendations.

Firearms are also authorized for the purpose of sport as recommended by the National Rifle Association.

Implementation of the Provisions  of the Regulation of the Private Security Agencies  Act No.45 of 1998 

Laws to regulate the Private Security Industry in Sri Lanka formally came in to force on 1 st January, 2000. The Regulation of Private Security Agencies Act No.45 of 1998 and Regulations made under that Act and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1105/27 of 12 th November, 1999 were given legal effect  on this day. It became illegal to carry on the business of Private Security Industry without a proper licence since this day. The implementation of the provisions of this Act is now vested with the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order.

Under the above Act and the Regulation, there is a legal basis to act upon with regard to the establishment and carrying on the business of Private Security by Private Security Agencies and also to controlled training and to evaluate the quality employees of such establishments. The Ministry has now formulated the policy to be adopted for the firearm training that should be given to the cadres in these Agencies.

The uniform committee established under the new Laws and Regulation has formulated guidelines in respect of the uniforms that have to be worn by the security guards.

Burden on the Police Department with regard to the provision of security to various sectors has been lessened due the services rendered by the Private Security Agencies.

Since there is a legal basis which controls the Private Security Industry, government could maintain better standards in the industry which now provides civil security to the State Department, Corporations, Authorities, Banks and Private Sector enterprises. At present there are 280 Private Security Agencies registered with the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order.

Rating Security Clearance for the Importation of Communication equipment.

The Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order liaises with the Director General of Telecommunications in granting clearance for the importation of communication equipment and other accessories for various communication projects for the purpose of maintenance of National Security.

Training in Security

Objective of the Project    

To impart the necessary and relevant training to the security personnel  (security guards and security officers ) employed by State and Private Sector Organizations to ensure the maintenance of the security of the Commercial and Industrial Establishments.

To achieve the above objective, a well equipped Training Center is very necessary. The Home Guard Training Camp at Kumbuka was utilized for the implementation of this project up to the end of 1999, until it was taken over for the use of Presidential Security Division. A site with two buildings has already been acquired at Serupita, Kalutara and the necessary improvements are now effected for utilization as a Training Centre for the Project - Training in Security.

The Training in Security Project now functions at a low key, until the Training Center at Serupita, Kalutara is ready to be opened in the early part of next year.

This Project engages the service of professional teams for the training programmes which include lectures, demonstrations and other important aspects of security awareness.  

This project also caters to the need of the firearm proficiency to selected security guards from Private Security Agencies, which is a responsibility that has to be undertaken by the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order. During the year 2002, 106 Security Guards of Private Security Agencies received such training.

The following provisions are made for the year 2002

Provision Expenditure %  up to end of October,2002

Personal Emoluments  924,000 368,663 40

Other Recurrent 1,600,00 497,853 31

The low % of expenditure utilized is due to the no non availability of a permanent Training Center for the full scale implementation of this project. This will be rectified during the year 2003, when the Training Centre at Serupita, Kalutara commences the programmes.

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