The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 01. No. 02. 04.04.2025. 03. Public Security Committees - 14,126. 04. As at 04.08.2025, 12,710 Public Security Committees have been established. 05. (1) Objectives: - Contribute to ensuring national security through safeguarding public security. - Conflict resolution and crime prevention through community decision-making. - Empower communities by safeguarding the self-esteem of youth. - Promote national responsibility and accountability and foster religious harmony. - Ensure sustainable use of natural resources through environmental protection. - Identify risks and manage disasters and hazards. - Contribute to community development through public activities. - Create a people-centric police service. - Contribute to nurturing disciplined, law-abiding citizens. - Develop citizens spiritually and attitudinally to ensure social well-being. - Identify and implement contemporary social development needs. - Contribute to eradicating narcotics, which have become a social menace.

¶ 03 06. To realize the objectives in 5(1), the following functions are assigned to the Public Security Committees: - Prepare plans and assign responsibilities to members to achieve the core objectives. - Identify vulnerable social groups prone to crime and drugs, and resolve related issues. - Implement awareness programmes on public security using innovative communication methods (digital, mass media and literary arts). - Conduct programmes to educate the public on prevailing legal conditions to prevent crime. - Identify issues within the community and coordinate with relevant institutions to provide solutions. - Target out-of-school youth within the committee areas for training and referrals (sports, youth societies, cultural and other associations). - Identify potential locations for environmental and other malpractices within the committee areas and implement solutions through a scientific approach. - Create public awareness to protect reserves, buffer-zone forests, sensitive wetlands and water sources within the committee areas. - Promote cleanliness and waste management, including electronic and non-biodegradable waste management.

¶ 04 07. The Chairman is appointed by the committee members.

¶ 05 08. Members are appointed by the Officer-in-Charge/Officer Commanding the Police Station, while the members appoint officers other than the Secretary.

¶ 06 09. The Grama Niladhari of the relevant GN Division shall ordinarily serve as Secretary.

¶ 07 10. A police officer appointed by the OIC/Officer Commanding of the Police Station shall serve as the Convener.

¶ 08 11. All committee members including Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Convener shall participate.

¶ 09 Qualifications: When appointing members, those permanently resident in the GN Division and enjoying recognized social acceptance shall be selected. Two members of the Clean Sri Lanka Rural Committee shall mandatorily be included. In addition, representatives of committees run by other institutions shall be afforded membership opportunities. At least 50% of the total membership shall be youth between 18 and 45 years of age, with at least 25% female representation among members.

¶ 10 Not applicable.