In a major development to further combat crime and the drug mafia, Sri Lanka on Thursday commissioned a special police unit called the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) with orders to eliminate criminals on the spot should the need arise.
Until now the police arm called the Special Task Force (STF) that successfully played a crucial role in the extermination of the Tamil Tigers in the eastern province, had orders to arrest and crack down on a growing number of lawless cases in the country.
But the RDF has now taken the place of the STF in the forefront against drug trafficking and underground killings with the fullest backing of the government and its commissioning comes two days after a notorious duo wanted for several murders and drug related activities was shot dead by police in a Colombo suburb.
“You don’t have to think twice before pulling the trigger, if the situation demands it use your weapons and don’t be afraid to worry about what happens after it. We started our crackdown on crime beginning with drug trafficking and we will take the fight to another level,” Law and Order Minister Tiran Alles told members of the RDF at their passing out parade at the STF training facility in Kalutara.
The RDF will hunt down lawless elements, drug dealers and members of other clandestine organizers armed with the latest military hardware riding high-powered motor cycles.
The present strength of the RDF is 96 members, but the numbers are expected to increase to make the whole exercise a success according to a police official.
He said for a start the RDF will be deployed to go after criminal elements in Colombo’s Western Province and the Southern Province that are considered to be the hot bed of criminals with several murders, robberies and drug related violence taking centre stage.
Police chief Deshabandu Tennekoon said they have already earmarked 20 criminal gangs for elimination and have the support of Interpol to hunt down overseas based criminals as well.
