Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-01-17

Amendment of the Firearms Ordinance

- It has been identified that amendment of the Firearms Ordinance No.33 of 1916 is a timely need to formalise the usage of firearms to preserve law and order in the country, in the issuance and usage of firearms for the protection of agricultural crops and other property and in prohibiting the usage of firearms in public places. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to instruct the Legal Draftsman, to draft the amending legislation necessary in accordance with the recommendations made by the Officials' Committee appointed in this respect to make a study and report, was approved by the Cabinet.