There is widespread disappointment among police officers who were looking forward to applying for positions overseas with the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF).
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya recently sent out a circular saying that police officers may apply only once every five years to join the UNPKF.
Personnel from the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Police Department may join the ranks of the UNPKF for a service term of one year. All recruited personnel, regardless of rank, receive a monthly salary of between Rs. 400,000 and Rs. 500,000.
To qualify, applicants are required to pass a series of 10 tests, including English and driving. Only a small number of Police Department personnel are able to pass these tests.
According to police sources, the number of police recruits to the UNPKF has dropped dramatically to about 50 officers in the most recent recruiting drive.
Police sources say the new regulations have denied a large number of police officers the opportunity to join the UNPKF, adding that the country also stood to lose because of lost potential foreign revenue. |
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