SL government destroys weapon collection

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 10:52 GMT]
15, 000 of about 26,000 lethal weapons collected by the Sri Lankan government since 1985 during the insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and from criminal gangs were destroyed Friday morning in the presence of Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Deputy Defence Minister, and Mr.Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police, sources in Colombo said. This event took place to mark the International Weapons Destruction Day

Deputy Defence Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayke inspecting an illegal weapon before being destroyed, IGP Mr.Chandra Fernando and Ministry Secretary Mr.Thilak Ranaviraja are also seen

The Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order together with the National Commission against Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons has organised the event.

The balance weapons will be destroyed at a later date, ministry sources said.