Fifty-one Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) are to be recruited to the Police through an open examination conducted by the Examination Department.

These appointments are expected to take place shortly, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told the media.

He said the interviews began on February 5 and are scheduled to conclude next Wednesday.

A total of 255 candidates were called for interviews based on the results issued by the Examination Department, he said.

“According to the recruitment process rules, the number of candidates invited for interviews must be five times the number of vacancies. We are conducting these interviews in a very transparent and fair manner,” the Minister said.

Mr. Wijepala said that according to the Inspector General of Police the ongoing ASP interviews have the highest number of lawyers participating.

As the police already have a significant number of lawyers, including those currently practising and those studying to become lawyers, Minister Wijepala mentioned that there are plans to utilise their support in the future for representing the police in court cases.

“Currently, in most magistrate courts, only the police sergeant appears on behalf of the police. Instead of this, I proposed the idea of appointing lawyers who are already serving in the police,” Mr. Wijepala told The Sunday Times.

He emphasised that this is only a suggestion at this stage, and if implemented, the necessary position adjustments would be made accordingly.

(Sunday Times)
(This story, originally published by Sunday Times has not been edited by SLM staff)

At least 18 people, including ten women and three children, were killed in a tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night. 

The incident occurred around 8 PM local time as thousands of Hindu pilgrims gathered to board trains heading to Prayagraj city for the annual Mahakumbh Mela religious festival, located 624 kilometers southeast of the capital.

The crush took place on two platforms as massive crowds surged to catch trains to the festival. 

The fire engulfing the Ella Rock forest reserve continued yesterday with more than 600 acres of a total extent of 4,447 acres, destroyed so far.

The fire had spread towards the Rawana falls on Friday night.

Winds and steep inclines are hampering efforts by the army, Forest Conservation and the fire services of the Bandarawela Municipal council.

Trees, reptiles and small animals have been destroyed in the fire. Monkeys were also severely affected.

Police warned that boulders could fall onto the main road.

Air Force helicopters were not called in to assist, unlike in previous years.

Prof  Ruwan Ranasinghe, deputy minister of tourism, told the media that using helicopters has not been effective in controlling such fires in addition to the high cost involved.

He said NPP members in each of the divisions will be reined in to prevent such fires in future.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)