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

¶ 01 The answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) and (ii) Uniform enforcement across provinces is ensured through statutory provisions and administrative instruments including the Code of Criminal Procedure, Police Ordinance, Departmental Orders, and circulars of the Inspector-General of Police. Directions are issued to police and local administration as required.

¶ 03 (iii) Yes. Organized crime and mob-related violence are comparatively prevalent in the Western and Southern Provinces. Analysis of statistics indicates comparatively higher incidence in: - Western Province: Colombo North, Nugegoda and Gampaha Police Divisions; - Southern Province: Elpitiya, Tangalle, Galle and Matara Police Divisions.

¶ 04 (iv) Interventions include, inter alia: - Intelligence-led identification of organized criminals and their plans, including use of informants. - Surveillance of registered offenders and recently released convicts. - Public awareness programmes, including for schoolchildren, on crime prevention. - Enhanced policing: mobile, foot, motorcycle, bicycle and area patrols; random checks of persons and premises. - Special operations to arrest suspects in reported crimes. - Seeking Interpol Red Notices for absconders overseas, apprehending and repatriating them; targeting overseas controllers. - Seizure of firearms and narcotics based on information from arrested suspects to prevent planned crimes. - Establishing rapid response motorcycle units at divisional level to apprehend fleeing suspects. - Pre-planned emergency security responses at police station/divisional level with prior training. - Identifying and prosecuting corrupt officials linked to organized crime or narcotics; activating intelligence lines to gather such information. - Expediting investigations and filing charge sheets promptly; fast-tracking court proceedings. - Close coordination with the Attorney General’s Department for prompt advice. - Financial investigations into unlawfully acquired assets of organized crime and narcotics actors. - Information collection on outsiders working within police areas; frequent searches and action against suspicious persons. - Checks at fishing harbours and multi-day craft to curb illegal sea movements of criminals; directing intelligence and operations accordingly. - Proactive protection for persons threatened by criminals based on intelligence. - Maintaining databases on organized criminals and fingerprints. - Dedicated policing around prisons; joint weekly reviews with Prisons to curb prison-linked crime; analysis of mobile phones seized from prisons by CID and intelligence. - Coordination with agencies such as the Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC). - Establishment of specialized Crime Divisions in each province, and ongoing investigations through: • Colombo Crime Division (CCD) • Western North Crime Division • Western South Crime Division • Matara District Crime Division • Kalutara District Crime Division • Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

¶ 05 (b) Does not arise.