Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has expressed his regret over the non-provision of police security to the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekera.
The Minister said that although the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, who was murdered, had requested security from the Inspector General of Police, he was unable to provide that security because he was a registered criminal (IRC).
The Minister said that if a person requests security from the police, there is a system in place to provide it, and that the request is referred to a committee and the security is provided based on its recommendations. However, the Minister further said that the police cannot provide security to a criminal who is under investigation and has cases related to the underworld.