Armed forces personnel who are stationed close to gas stations may need to be relieved of their responsibilities, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
According to the Ministry, due to the disturbing circumstances seen surrounding gas stations, the Tri-forces members may need to be removed if requests for their removal are made from multiple parties.
Although a decision to remove military personnel from gas stations has not yet been made, the Ministry’s Secretary, S. Hettiarachchi, stated that such a circumstance could occur in the future.
The Ministry’s Secretary further mentioned that fights involving some political activists, gangs from the underworld, and subversive organisations had been discovered to have occurred close to gas stations.
The Ministry of Public Security notes that in light of the under-deployment of police officers for the security of filling stations, the aid of members of the armed forces was requested.
All Police divisions have been instructed to carry out civil control activities independently and to only request the aid of the military forces in an emergency, according to Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi.