Do not remove youth from Multi-Purpose Task force in an unfair manner: Minister

Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera today requested officers who are in charge of Multi-Purpose Task force not to remove the youth from it in an unfair manner by bringing in legal arguments.

The Minister made the following remarks at a meeting with the officers in charge of the task force in his ministry.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed the Multi-Purpose Task force to help the youths who are affected by poverty to come out of that situation. Some members of this force have been removed by bringing legal arguments. One has to be more practical and understand the purpose of this task force. There is no problem in removing those members whose parents are public servants. However, the issue is the removal of those who are affected by extreme poverty.

If a student obtains six passes at the GCE ordinary level examination inclusive of two credits he or she is considered as a person who has passed the examination. There would be no purpose if a person obtains seven credits at the ordinary level examination if he or she is failed in either in Sinhalese or Mathematics as that student is not qualified to move on to the advanced level stage. One must understand this practical situation and see that the President's objective is fulfilled.

Those had to complete 18 years of age as at the end of February last year had not been recruited for the task force as per the previous criteria. Therefore, the officers should understand the purpose and the concept behind the multi-purpose task force.

Secretary to the Ministry of National Security Major General Jagath Alwis, and the Head of the Department of Multi-purpose Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi were present at the discussion.