He said persons in possession of any such firearms are requested to hand over them to the nearest Police Station, Divisional Secretariat or District Secretariat during the above-mentioned period.
Addressing a press briefing at the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), the Defence Secretary yesterday said cash rewards will be offered to persons who hand over the weapons. Persons who hand over T 56 weapons will receive Rs. 25, 000, pistols and revolvers Rs. 10, 000 and shot guns and Gal Katas Rs. 5,000.
The Defence Secretary said the cash rewards will be granted as an incentive for persons who hand over their firearms to the government.
He said arrangements are in place to launch island wide raids to seize these firearms after the amnesty period.
Hettiarachchi said the Defence Ministry has already decided to appoint a committee to issue licenses for the firearms.
At present there are 800 to 1,000 illegal firearms in circulation throughout the country. Because of this, the government declared a general amnesty period to surrender the illegal firearms, Law and Order and Southern Development Ministry Secretary Jagath P. Wijeweera said. (CDN)
