News
COPA orders police to dispose of tear gas past expiry dates
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) on Thursday ordered the police to dispose of the tear gas stocks past expiry datesThe Committee has called in the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, the Inspector General of Police, and many senior police officers, for a meeting, and attention was also drawn to the shelf life expired tear gas belonging to the police.
Senior police officers informed COPA that the process of disposal of date expired tear gas has started and they will never be used.However, the Chair of the Committee asked the police to prepare and submit a report on the measures taken to control public riots, including the use of tear gas.
Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, informed the Department of Police to provide a report on their proposed plan to increase their efficiency, using information technology.
COPA members pointed out that the department of police was asked to provide a similar plan when they were called before COPA in 2016. The Inspector General of Police said that since it is difficult to set up a single information technology system for the Sri Lanka Police, steps will be taken to introduce information technology systems, in segments.
The IGP said that a new pilot project is currently being implemented in Hatton and Nuwara Eliya Police Stations where a digital system has been established, allowing people to check the status of their complaints, digitally.
The Committee Chair said that there should be a digital system, integrating the police with the Motor Transport Department and other relevant institutions. COPA asked the IGP to furnish a report on how to do that within a month.
Issues, such as the lack of female police officers, in the Sri Lanka Police, were also addressed. It was disclosed that there are vacancies for 2419 female police constables. Although these vacancies were to be filled by 2023, this can’t be done, due to the current economic situation, the officials told COPA.
The IGP said a reform programme has been initiated to provide equal opportunities for women to climb the hierarchical ladder in the police department.
Special attention was also paid to the need to improve the language skills of police officers. Senior police officers pointed out that many programmes have been started to impart Tamil and English language skills to police officers. The Committee emphasized the need to streamline those activities.
Issues related to police promotions, police reward fund management, road accident control, crime control and other problems and their solutions were also discussed.
State Ministers Kader Mastan, Prasanna Ranaweera, Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, Diana Gamage, and Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, A. L. M. Athaullah, J. C. Alawathuwala, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Manjula Dissanayake, Mudita Prashanthi, D. Weerasingha, (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Ashok Abeysinghe, and (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya were present at the Committee meeting.
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
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