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Last updated: 08 July, 2005 - Published 18:31 GMT
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Firearms destroyed in Colombo
Bulldozers cruching the firearms (photo Elmo Fernando)
Nearly 35,000 weapons were crushed using bulldozers
Minister of Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defense Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said the democratic values are increasingly depreciating in Sri Lanka due to criminal activities.

He said the TNA parliamentarians, for example, are prevented from speaking their mind in the parliament by the Tamil Tigers.

He was addressing a gathering in Colombo to mark the International Weapons Destruction Day.

defense authorities on Friday used two bulldozers to crush nearly 35,000 of illegal arms used during the JVP’s insurrection, two decades of civil war with Tamil Tigers, and by the criminal gangs.

The weapons, collected by the government during firearms amnesty, had been sitting in stores for years.

The event has been organised by the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order together with the National Commission against Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Secretary to the Ministry Thilak Ranavirajah said nearly 53,000 crimes committed every year in Sri Lanka using these weapons.

It has been also revealed that many weapons given to parliamentarians during late 80s are yet to be recovered.

IGP Chandra Fernando and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

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