People possessing unauthorised firearms will be given a grace period from October 1 to November 30 this year to surrender them to the government, said Tilak Ranaviraja, Secretary, Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order.
Those found guilty of possessing any firearms without a valid permit after the lapse of this grace period will be severely dealt with in terms of section 22 of the Firearms Act No. 33 which was amended by Act No. 22 of 1996, he said.
Mr. Ranaviraja however said that no legal action will be taken against persons who make use of this grace period to surrender their illegal weapons. He said anyone possessing an illegal gun, revolver, pistol or automatic weapon could
surrender such weapons during this grace period to the nearest police station or the District Secretariat of the relevant district where such person is residing.
Once weapons are surrendered action will be taken to return them with a valid permit to the deserving previous owners after a careful examination. Application forms for the issue of permits could be obtained from the respective police stations or the District Secretariats, he said.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/09/15/new23.html)
