Mar 27, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed Police Chief Victor Perera to implement a special plan to beef up security in the entire Southern Province giving a special attention to Katharagma Sacred area, said the Presidential Secretariat.

The President has highlighted that it is prudent to have such a plan with the upcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season during a special discussion he had with Police Chief Victor Perera, other heads of police divisions and with government’s political representatives in the Southern Province yesterday.

According to the officials, the meeting has been convened to evaluate the security arrangements of the police divisions and police stations. During the discussions the President has instructed to construct new buildings for Tangalle and Ambalanthota police stations and to set up a new police station at Karapitiya in Galle. Also, the President was informed on shortage of police officers, need to refurbish police stations, lack of housing for police officers and requirement to construct new police stations and check points, the sources said.

Meanwhile Police Chief has informed the President that 26 vehicles had been already allocated to police stations in the Southern Province and new building constructions are currently in progress at Dikwella, Ratgama, Kirinda, Kosgoda, Hikkaduwa, Ahangama , Weligama, Hiniduma and Udugama police stations.