Special Prison Police Unit to receive STF training

The special Prison Police Unit set up by the Justice Minister to take the place of the Intelligence Unit after the latter was dismissed last week is set to receive STF training. 

Arrangements are being made by the Police to give STF training to a selection of prison officials, Police Spokesperson SSP Ruwan Gunasekara told Daily FT. 

The unit is to receive training under the Special Task Force Commandant on different aspects of investigation, information collection, legal issues and discipline. 

According to subject Minister Thalatha Athukorala, arrangements are being made to set up a police unit made up of prison officials for investigations, with proper legal authority. 

Speaking at a function in Ratnapura, the Minister said that the Intelligence Unit which functioned from 2010 did not have a proper legal authority. 

“This is the first time a Prison Police is set up in the prison system. There was no one properly responsible for all the raids and other action taken by the Intelligence Unit for the last eight years since it was set up in 2010. The new unit will have a proper legal framework,” she said.

The Minister alleged that action taken by the former unit was manipulated through political influence as there was no proper authority in charge of the unit. 

“Those who work in the prison system should be disciplined. They should not be influenced as they have been earlier. They are dealing with a special section of people from society, they should know how to work with them and ensure that prisoners are also treated as humans,” Athukorala said.