Aug 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka Police and Army will carry out a joint operation in the Eastern Province to disarm groups and people possessing unauthorized weapons ahead of the Eastern Provincial Council election next month, the local media reported.

A senior police officer from the Batticaloa Range has been quoted in the media saying that they would conduct raids on locations where suspected illegal firearms are being kept.

"We have received details from the police headquarters in Colombo to tighten security, in order to conduct the election in a free and fair manner. The Election Commissioner has written to the IGP asking him to disarm political groups or individuals carrying weapons. Likewise, we will be conducting an operation to disarm all groups to have a violence free election," the senior police officer has said.

He has added that an order would be made for weapons to be handed over to the police stations in the East and that strict action would be taken if any person fails to hand over weapons.