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Incident involving Police and Army goes viral: Gen Silva questions conduct of police, demands inquiry

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/7

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa says an inquiry has been initiated into an incident involving the police and a group of soldiers near a police road block, on the main road, leading to Parliament, on the evening of Tuesday (05). Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa said that Police Headquarters had received a complaint from Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), regarding the incident. Video footage of the police confronting a four-member team of Army riders, at the road block, amidst a noisy protest, has gone viral on social media, with private television stations, too, telecasting the unprecedented incident.

Although earlier reports said the Army motorcycles had no number plates, yesterday Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who is no friend of the government, told Parliament they did have number plates and called for an impartial inquiry.

In an urgent missive to IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, General Silva asked for an inquiry into what he called the ‘unethical and ill-mannered behaviour’ of two Assistant Superintendents of Police. Calling for disciplinary action against them, the Army Chief said that the Army riders arrived at the scene on the directions of the Director Operations, Army HQ.

Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, too, has taken up the issue with the IGP as well as the Secretary, Law and Order Ministry, Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis. Gen. Gunarathe has declared that the police officers’ conduct wasn’t acceptable at all. The two ASPs have intervened and at one point another policeman has been captured switching off the ignition of one of the motorbikes. The police contingent deployed at the checkpoint had told their superiors they intervened to prevent a possible flare-up that may have triggered violence.

Since the eruption of public protests at the Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, last Thursday (March 31), Army Commander who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) shifted the Air Mobile Brigade of the 53 Division to Colombo. In addition to the Army, both Army and Air Force have been directed to deploy personnel in support of law enforcement authorities. The Special Task Force (STF), too, has been deployed at selected areas as protesters stepped up pressure on ruling party politicians. Both serving and retired military officers yesterday told The Island that the Office of the CDS should ensure smooth coordination among the armed forces and the police especially against the backdrop of coordinated protests and mob violence directed at the residences of Ministers and State Ministers.

The police said that in spite of repeated provocations they had responded patiently. Five policemen received injuries during violent protests outside Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s Kandy residence. They said the possibility of mobs returning to the previously targeted residences couldn’t be ruled out, hence the need to provide security.

State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe alleged in Parliament on Tuesday (05) in spite of him alerting the IGP to an imminent threat posed to his Polonnaruwa residence, the police failed to thwart the attack. Marauding mob caused damages, lawmaker Ranasinghe said, alleging that the Jathika Jana Balavegaya, the Frontline Socialist Party and SLFPers carried out the attack.

SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, who was present in Parliament at the time, denied the rival’s accusation totally. Former Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera said that he couldn’t comment on the incident involving the police and army personnel or the current situation, in an official capacity. The Colombo District lawmaker said that such incidents could be quite detrimental to current efforts to curtail violence.

Police and political sources said that Anuradhapura district had been one of the worst affected, where mobs targeted houses and offices of Pohottuwa, SLFP and even Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) early this week. Protesters also targeted soothsayer Gnana akka’s luxurious home prompting the police deployed there to summon army backup. Sources said that for nearly eight hours protesters targeted homes and offices of five Ministers, State Ministers and an MP. The targeted politicians included State Ministers, Dr. Prof. Channa Jayasumana and Shehan Semasinghe as well as Duminda Dissanayake and Cabinet Minister S.M. Chandrasena and Uddika Premaratne. Sources said that Gnana Akka’s home received much better protection than those of the Members of Parliament.

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Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka pays courtesy call on PM

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Location of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal Sea area

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026

Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.

The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.

The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

News

Canada concerned about delay in holding PC polls

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin shaking hands with Minister Abayaratne

Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.

Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.

India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.

Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.

During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.

In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.

The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.

In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.

The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.

by Shamindra Ferdinando