Underworld criminals given final warning to surrender

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 August 2009, 06:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police has given final warning to underworld criminals to surrender immediately with their arms. "Without waiting for another deadline, they should surrender themselves at the nearest police station," police media spokesman Ranjit Gunasekara said.

He said action has been taken to eliminate underworld criminal activities with immediate effect to rid the country free from criminal activities, such as extortion, kidnapping, murder and intimidation.

Security establishment has arrived at the decision after a survey conducted into the activities of the underworld criminals.

A special action committee has been appointed to carry out the decision.

The assistance of the Sri Lanka Army would be sought if necessity arose.

Armed activities of the underworld criminals have increased following the elimination of LTTE, he added.

According to media reports already about ninety underworld criminal leaders had been shot and killed by the police during the last two months in operations against them.