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Sri Lanka to announce amnesty period to hand over illegal firearms

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry said Wednesday that an amnesty period to surrender illegal firearms will be declared from April 25 to May 6.

The move came after it was noted that over 200 weapons maybe in circulation illegally.

Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi told journalists in the capital that 900 weapons recovered from Tamil Tiger rebels during the war period had gone missing and the army had been able to recover at least 600 to 700 weapons. However more than 200 weapons still need to be recovered which is why an amnesty period had been granted to hand over the firearms, Hettiarachchi said.

He further said that any persons who possess firearms illegally are requested to hand them over to the nearest police station.

Sri Lanka has in recent months been battling a high crime rate including gang related shootings and robberies which has led to tightened security in the capital and the south.

The rise in such shootings has also led to snap road blocks being erected in many parts of the capital and special operational units being set up in many police stations in the country.

Despite the surge in crime, security officials have assured that there is no security threat in the island nation and most of the incidents have occurred due to personal conflicts. Enditem