Traffic Police (Sri Lanka)

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Sri Lanka Traffic Police uniform. SriLanka-Independence - 4 Feb 2019 (59).jpg
Sri Lanka Traffic Police uniform.

The Traffic Police is a specialized unit of the Sri Lanka Police responsible for overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways. It is headed by the Director of Traffic, in recent times a senior gazetted officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). Therefore, the post is also referred to as DIG - Traffic.

Sri Lanka Police

The Sri Lanka Police is the civilian national police force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The police force has a manpower of approximately 77,000, and is responsible for enforcing criminal- and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout Sri Lanka. The professional head of the police is the Inspector General of Police who reports to the Minister of Law and Order as well as the National Police Commission. The current Inspector General of Police is Pujith Jayasundara.

Contents

History

With the enactment of the Motor Traffic Act of 1950, the Colombo Metropolitan Police identified the need for a unit for traffic control in the city of Colombo. This unit was formed in 1951 and was expanded in 1953 to cover the whole island with the establishment of the Traffic Police Headquarters.

Colombo Commercial Capital in Western Province, Sri Lanka

Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial centre of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of, and a suburb of, Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins. It was the legislative capital of Sri Lanka until 1982.

Units

Administration of the unit is carried out by the Traffic Police Headquarters, while there is a Traffic Unit in all police stations island wide.

Police station building which serves to accommodate police officers

A police station is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.

Duties

Uniform

Traffic police officers can be identified by the white colour peaked caps, cross belts and belts they wear on the standard police uniform.

Peaked cap Form of uniform headgear with a short visor, crown, band, and insignia

A peaked cap, forage cap, barracks cover or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It derives its name from its short visor, which was historically made of polished leather but increasingly is made of a synthetic substitute.

Sam Browne belt wide belt, usually leather, supported by a narrower strap passing diagonally over the right shoulder

The Sam Browne belt is a wide belt, usually leather, supported by a narrower strap passing diagonally over the right shoulder. It is most often a part of a military or police uniform.

Belt (clothing) worn band or braid, usually around the waist or hips

A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist, which is usually of less circumference than the hips underneath, preventing pants from falling. Belts are used to secure or hold up clothing, like trousers or other articles of clothing, in a manner similar to suspenders and garters. Some trousers come with belt loops around the waist, which the belt goes through. Objects to carry objects such as coin purses, holsters, scabbards, inrōs, etc. have been attached to belts in lieu of pockets.

See also

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