Police to purchase 18 horses for Rs. 50m

9 October 2012 12:38 am - 55 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Police Department was planning to purchase 18 horses for the Police Mounted Division for Rs.50 million and currently tenders had been called from Australia, New Zealand and European countries.

Each thorough-bred horse that the police was planning to purchase would be around Rs.2.7 million, the police said.

The Police Mounted Division which was one of the most respected ceremonial arms of the country has around 40 horses but most of them were now believed to have surpassed the age required for active duty.

They were mostly used by the police for crowd control at large public events and providing ceremonial escorts at national events.

There were also plans to open a new veterinary laboratory for horses. It was also reported that the Division had recruited a permanent veterinary surgeon in the rank of reserve Assistant Superintendent of Police to do full time veterinary work.

However the police have already set up new stables at Nuwara Eliya and also at the Police Training Academy in Kalutara. The Mounted Division was also considering a proposal to open a horse riding school for the public and use the income generated by it to expand the Mounted Division. (Supun Dias)

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Comments - 55

DAVID Tuesday, 09 October 2012 08:00 AM

Buy some donkeys also & give them to the ministers

Ranil Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:11 AM

Fools & horses

Critic Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:13 AM

Can't we use donkeys for this? I know there are plenty of 2 legged donkeys in Sri Lanka.

RH Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:22 AM

The defense ministry knows what it's doing, and they surely know it better than you!
Look what Colombo has become today. And they're not a bunch of wasters. Pls use your head!!!

Sumithi Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:17 AM

Last time I checked they were banished into an island in DIYAWANNAWA..

RH Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:29 AM

Seriously? Learn to respect the Leader of the Country first, whatever your politics are!!!! These horses are being ordered for a purpose, and not willy knilly!

RH Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:29 AM

There is a creative plan involved, and you might just not have the brains to understand it. Who do you think would benefit from the foreign income we gain by making Colombo a better tourist spot?

RH Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:38 AM

Haters will always hate. But the majority has already seen the wit of the Secretary Defense and his crew. Hats off to them! Sad that a few dont appreciate their evident efforts to safeguard the public.

ANTON Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:39 AM

Police department is becoming an animal farm .. police dogs, police horses , donkeys are already there.

kirala Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:50 AM

How exactly is that relevant to this news article, and how is horse racing going to help the masses who have so many critical problems to deal with in their fight for survival?

pranandu Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:47 AM

Do we need so many Horses?

kirala Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:55 AM

No. Since all the donkeys have become parliamentarians, they refuse to be beasts-of-burden as it's a violation of parliamentary privileges.

wedige Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:56 AM

they should have purchsed some BULLS and Donkey's too.

bigsam Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:52 AM

Wake up - this is 2012 not 1712. You cant chase criminals on a horse these days and cant even use them during a riot. Better spend it automating your records or buy some armoured cars if IT is still too complex for you.

Vimal Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:55 AM

Dicipline the police first! Just putting a show and having unruly idiots is not the right way

mofaruk Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:58 AM

On top of 50M; maintenance cost going is also going to be huge. Nice to have horses but would you afford at these huge cost ? (you don't care because its public money ha ? ) Look around and see what other countries are doing for ceremonies and crowed control without using horses.

Aladeen Tuesday, 09 October 2012 08:19 AM

the donkeys will be riding the horses - don't you get it?

Aladeen Tuesday, 09 October 2012 08:21 AM

then you can have hybrid horses just bring in a few mares (female horses ) and let the police uncles do the rest :D

Henry Tuesday, 09 October 2012 08:33 AM

Why not buy from India or Pakistan for a cheaper price. Horses from these countries are more suitable for our conditions.

Citizen Buwa Tuesday, 09 October 2012 09:31 AM

There is a story from History that we all should know. During the black plague in Europe, a King was criticised for "wasting" public money by investing in scientists. The outcry was for him to spend that money on clean water, clothes, and other DIRECT items. The King however, was a visionary, and continue to keep a portion of the money to fund his scientists. One of these scientists uses his Lab to identify how to cure this plague, and device the medicine required to treat the sick.
I'm not saying our police force or politicians are visionaries of this calibre, but we the general public must also remember that simply pouring all the money into ONE area of the country will NOT make it move forward. Let the country's leaders do their job, if you're not satisfied, USE YOUR VOTE to make a change

Mervin Honey Tuesday, 09 October 2012 10:51 AM

welll said Kay Parker..he he

Malee de Silva Tuesday, 09 October 2012 11:18 AM

Why do not they switch to "Donkeys", can find enough for free from the Parliament.

Imran Hussein Tuesday, 09 October 2012 11:19 AM

No mate nothing wrong with that.
in fact its charming to have this smart animal around in the city and its an added beauty.
The only doubt here is the procurement proceedures.

kasi Tuesday, 09 October 2012 12:17 PM

Can't we use Karuna & Pillian instead of horses?

Hamden Tuesday, 09 October 2012 12:23 PM

This is for so called Sinhala Urumaya battos, Why still follow the British style? instead we can use buffaloes!

ssutharsana Wednesday, 10 October 2012 03:40 AM

Is this expense is very important when our war affected people in need of basic facilities?

Nihal Amarasekera Tuesday, 09 October 2012 04:17 AM

A horse deal la real.

Bala Tuesday, 09 October 2012 01:26 AM

Why the current set of 40 horsed do not breed....Horses breed quite fast. If so no need to import. Also this is not the time for importing horses where there are urgent issues pending.

Saman Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:14 AM

Is this the epriority of the day while a loaf of bread is Rs.65 and Rajarata farmers are suffering.

warra Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:15 AM

it would be a better idea to start a breeding program in horses, which would save money. why is this not taken into consideration. Nuwera Eliya is a best climate.

Moto Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:25 AM

Why don't they buy more moto bicycles?

Donga-The-Bonga Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:41 AM

Seriously, is this necessary..............................?

Shocking Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:53 AM

Get your proroties right. Do the Police need million dollar horses for crowd control or do the people need . Million dollar health services, Education,,proper nutrition and bettter housing for the thosands of displaced people, and releif from the high cost of living. .

nicky karunarathna Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:53 AM

Horses for courses. So what is the problem with that whatever the price is?

Hal Tuesday, 09 October 2012 02:56 AM

Come of be with the time, start riding Pigs.

Malini Tuesday, 09 October 2012 03:28 AM

Allow Horse racing in Sir-Lanka for Individuals and companies.

Herby Padmaperuma.. Tuesday, 09 October 2012 03:32 AM

ITF IT WANTS EXCELLENT PEDIGREED ASSES
DONKEYS AND POONEY, MNEED NOT SPEND AND WASTE VALUABLE FOREIGN EXCHANGE, THE SPECIES ARE AMPLY AVAILABLE AROUND DIYAWANNA OYA IN DISGUISE. .

hardball man Tuesday, 09 October 2012 03:44 AM

why don't they use the horses in neduntheevu(deft) island?

Muser Tuesday, 09 October 2012 03:49 AM

Given the tough economic times we are going through, cant we manage with the Donkeys available locally?

DJ Hilton Tuesday, 09 October 2012 04:11 AM

For what ????

Sumithi Tuesday, 09 October 2012 12:54 AM

A horse for 2.7 million. Worth it, if the price is paid ONLY for a horse. A political backed seller could send in sick horses which would die quickly. Horses from NZ could find it hard to adopt too.. Like with the case of cows brought from cool climates..

Chathu Tuesday, 09 October 2012 04:19 AM

The price is right. Hope they will buy the thorough-bred. Not from cattle farms.

Managala Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:15 AM

This is useless work 21 century police department need horses wonder whether they will be able to chase a culprit on motor bike.It is more useful to have powerful bikes.On the other hand we have our own native horses dying in a Island of Sri Lanka (As showcased in a TV Program me) it is more profitable to spend some money to build a breeding laboratory to produce our own good horses.
Idea of horse riding school is good one but why police department it should come under education.All mixed up...

Pavan Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:16 AM

It's very important to acquire these horses, to let the country to reach the miracle.....

manju Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:36 AM

the mounted patrol is a prestige symbol, tourists low to see these on the streets and take photos. this is all part of uplifting the city's looks.

same reason to encourage higher caliber cars on the road. for tourists it gives the impression that the country is booming.

i think there are more pressing needs than just a white wash like this.

Kiwi Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:44 AM

Can't the police do with donkeys??????After all the country is full of them!!!

Cynic Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:54 AM

Why bring horses when there are so many donkies in parliament?

shantha kuamra Tuesday, 09 October 2012 05:57 AM

Then use our parliment local donkeys and monkeys. Public fund = government enoyment, day by day things getting increased...what a country ...what development....what a chintanaya......finally it will suba chintanaya for public stomach

tishan Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:14 AM

Maha Rajata sobane ta.

Thomas Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:31 AM

Hats off to the Defense Secretary for this creative initiation. Deploying a Mounted Unit in Colombo would be an added attraction for tourists, just like the Royal Gaurds oF The Queen's Palace in England.

Hussain Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:36 AM

If what you say is true. Why not have elephants on the streets. They are part of our national culture from ancient times. Didn't King DutuGemunu ride an elephant even to war?

Hussain Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:39 AM

It is much easier if the Police start a horse breeding program. If other countries could do it why no S/L? It would be much cheaper in the long run and profitable too.

Kay Parker Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:42 AM

Give them Donkeys..... they couldn't catch any culprits at Kelaniya Temple. Why should we spend any money on them.

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Police to purchase 18 horses for Rs. 50m

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