Sri Lanka Government Offers Amnesty to Recover Illegal Weapons

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 21, 2001

Sri Lanka Government Offers Amnesty to Recover Illegal Weapons

The Sri Lankan government will offer an amnesty to recover a large number of automatic weapons and explosives which are illegally in the hands of politicians and criminals,the official Daily News said on Friday.

Interior Minister John Amaratunga said that the amnesty will be announced next week and special units will be set up to receive unlicensed automatic assault rifles, grenades and explosives held illegally.

After the amnesty a major crackdown will be launched to recover whatever has not been surrendered. Over 25,000 firearms are in illegal circulation.

The weapons were reportedly used for violence during and after the December 5 parliamentary elections as well as by the underworld for various nefarious activities.

It is reported that more than 50 people were killed during the election period and more than 2,300 incidents were recorded in election-related violence.