Sri Lanka, Nov. 9 -- The authorities have identified six Police Divisions in the Western and Southern provinces as high-crime zones, a senior Minister told Parliament yesterday.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala said the Government has launched measures to curb criminal activity in these locations.

Regular police patrols have been increased and officers in plain clothes have been deployed for surveillance, and dedicated elite police motorcycle units are being set up in the identified areas, he said.

Wijepala said that while targeted operations are being carried out in high-crime divisions, police across the country are also conducting random checks on residences, vehicles and persons to locate illega...