COLOMBO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police said on Saturday that they have identified 58 gangs involved in organized crime and approximately 1,400 of their associates.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya said during a press conference that 22 individuals have been killed this year due to the activities of these criminal gangs, with 17 shot and five hacked to death.
He also revealed that 11 current and former members of the police and armed forces, linked to some of these incidents, have been arrested so far, including two policemen, one soldier, one airman, and seven army deserters.
Organized crime remains a significant issue in Sri Lanka, and the government has vowed to crack down on such activities. The government has also announced plans to recruit 10,000 police officers to tackle crimes, reduce traffic accidents, and improve public safety.
