Grace period to hand over unauthorized firearms

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A grace period has been declared to hand over firearms without valid permits, says the police headquarters.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued the relevant Gazette notification in this regard on earlier this week, by virtue of the powers vested in him under Section 30(1) of the Firearms Ordinance.

Accordingly, the public can hand over unauthorized firearms to the nearest police station until 12th of February.

The extraordinary gazette notification further read that it is necessary that the person handing over the firearm should not be fined or punished for an offence committed contrary to Section 22 of the Firearms Ordinance with regard to keeping in custody, possession or utilization of the firearm before the date of handing over.

However, the police have been instructed to take legal action against those who have failed to handover the unauthorized weapons to the Police during the amnesty.