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by Sarath Malalasekera

The globalisation of crime and the growing internationalisation of business have posed daunting challenges to all police authorities throughout the world. Police Departments in different countries must work together if they are to combat international crime successfully, Japanese Ambassador Seliichiro Otsuka said at the handing over of the computer equipment to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), at the Police Headquaters on Wednesday.

Rs. 10 million worth of computer equipment was handed over to IGP Lucky Kodituwakku by the Japanese Ambassador in the presence of Prof. V.K. Samaranayake, Resident Representative of JICA Seiji Kaiho, former DIG Camillus Abeygoonewardena of JICA International, DIG CID C.L. Ratnayake, former CID DIG Punya de Silva, Director CID Senior SP Lionel Gunatilleke, former Director CID Asoka Wijeytilleke, Several DIGs, Senior SPs and senior officers of the CID.

The Japanese Ambassador commenced his address by singing several Sinhala songs including 'Dola Duka, and 'Kasade' of Gypsies fame which kept the audience spellbound. There was pindrop silence as the Ambasssador sang and explained the meaning of those songs in Sinhala.

These songs have a meaning which is very close to the hearts of the people, the Ambassador added.

The Japanese Ambassador said that he was pleased to know that Mr.Kaiho, Resident Representative of JICA conducting a training program for the cultivation of professional skills among the police officers in Sri Lanka. This program would help the police service to meet the new challenges of complex modern society.

The Ambassador said that the computerisation program of the Sri Lanka Police service which began as early as 1992 had made a tremendous progress. The top management in the police service always has to think about ways of collecting information, efficiently and effectively and making such information available to officers operating in the field expeditiously.

Computer technologies help the police service to improve their capacities in important areas such as investigatation, intelligence and record management, the Ambassador said.

"I hope that the equipment donated will further increase the technical skills in maintaining law and security and preserving peace in Sri Lanka and lead to futher international cooperation in information - sharing among police services around the world," the Japanese Ambasador said.

The Ambassador noted that there is very positive move by the Government towards peace talks and wished it would be a success soon.

"I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation of the efforts in developing the computer networking system by Prof. Samaranayake. Without his efforts the equipment could not be utilised fully."

The Ambassador also thanked the former CID, DIG, Punya de Silva and former Director CID Senior SP Asoka Wijeytilleke for their great efforts to set=up a computer systems in the CID. If not for their efforts this project would not have materialised, the Ambassador added.

IGP Lucky Kodituwakku receivig the donation from the Japanese Ambassador said that the entire Police Force is grateful to the Japanese Ambassador and his team at the JICA International for assisting the Police Force in setting up of a sophisticated computer system in the CID to educate and improve the knowledge of the senior and junior Police personnel.

The IGP thanked the Japanese Ambassador and the officials of the JICA International for their kind gesture.

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