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Major changes coming to 150-year-old Police Ordinance
View(s):The Police Ordinance, which will complete 150 years since it became law next year, will undergo major changes as it has now been found that its provisions are “no longer adequate for the proper maintenance of law and order in the country.”
An expert committee headed by Law and Order Ministry Secretary Major General (Retd.) Nanda Mallawarachchi has begun the process of reviewing and revising the Police Ordinance, a Ministry official said.
The Committee which also consists of representatives from the Police Department, Defence Ministry as well as the Attorney General’s Department have, after holding several rounds of meetings, called for representations from the public on how they feel the law can be enhanced to serve the public better.
“There are several changes that have to be made but we will look at the public representations before making a final decision on how to amend the Ordinance so that the interests of the public are met,” the Law and Order Ministry official said.
The expert committee is looking to amend the law to deal with the present day and future social and technological advancements.
The Police Ordinance was enacted in 1865 and provides for the establishment and regulation of a Police Force for the country and has been amended several times, the last in 1984.
“The Committee hopes to wind up its work in four or five months,” the official added.