July 01, Colombo: Sri Lanka government has extended its amnesty period declared for armed groups to hand over their illegal weapons in Eastern Province.

The amnesty period, that was to conclude tomorrow, has been extended until the 4th of July on a special request made by several factions.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in Batticaloa Edion Gunathilaka said it will not be extended after 3:00 pm on July 4th.

A special committee comprising Police, Army and Special Task Force has also been appointed to accept those weapons, he added.

The government said that the armed groups who hand over their weapons during this amnesty period would not be punished.