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The Government's attempts to recover illegal firearms, possessed by several people including the underworld, has been a failure so far, according to police sources.

According to Deputy Inspector General H.N.G.B Kotakadeniya, within the first few days, the police managed to collect slightly over one hundred guns. Though it was thought that the trend would improve with the response at the start, where those who were in illegal possession, surrendered their weapons at the nearest police station. The trend has, since dropped. Even the two-week amnesty period granted to surrender such weapons had not made much progress.

DIG Kotakadeniya further pointed out that none of the automatic rifles have been surrendered. "We do not know why they are reluctant to surrender them," he said.

While there are as much as 20,000 illegal firearms still held by various elements, law enforcers are worried whether such weapons could be used for acts of intimidation during the Local Government elections like in the past."It is felt that the recovery of these weapons a `must' for a free and fair election, one police officer said.

Interior Minister John Amaratunga had instructed the police to come down hard on the offenders, irrespective of their social standing or other influences. They will face court action. Maximum punishment have been called for the offenders.

Meanwhile, DIG Gamini Navaratne in charge of the Police Election Secretariat has issued specific instructions to his men, to keep a close vigil on illegal firearms and take anyone into custody, who possesses such weapons. At the same time, Police seek public assistance to recover illegal weapons and assures that all informations received, will be treated with strictest confidence. (From The Observer) 

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