Scottish police continue to train SL forces

A Scottish police project to train Sri Lankan security forces is due to continue until 2015, despite calls for the project to end over concerns at the country's human rights record.

Last year, the Sunday Herald revealed how more than 3500 Sri Lankan police officers - including some senior commanders - had received training from the Scottish Police College (SPC) since 2007.

The police training reform project, which aims to embed "international standards in police training" and is being funded by the Foreign Office, will carry on until 2015, Police Scotland have confirmed.

Bruce Milne, a former head of education and development at the SPC, has also been subcontracted to manage the project in Sri Lanka, which is developing new leadership programmes for senior officers.

Concerns over the Sri Lankan government have been brought into focus during the Commonwealth Games, with the country's president Mahinda Rajapaksa holding one of the main leadership positions in the Commonwealth.(Herald Scotland)