News
LSU calls on authorities to probe swiftly brutal police assault on final year law student
The Law Students’ Union has called on authorities to hold a thorough investigation into the alleged assault on a Final Year Student of Sri Lanka Law College, Migara Gunaratne, by a group of Peliyagoda police personnel.
A statement signed by President of the LSU, Samadhi Gamalath and General Secretary, Vimukthi Karunaratne says: The Law Students’ Union joins with many across the nation in deploring the latest incident of police brutality committed against Migara Gunaratne and in calling out for justice. We stand with the victim of this recent violence and we grieve for his family, the community, and our nation. It is our firm belief that unnecessary brute force by sworn-in, law-enforcement officers were committed against him, who was unarmed or posed no threat at the time of incident.
It may be noted that this incident is added to a very long list of police brutality in our nation over many decades and it is rapidly increasing each day. It is clearly imperative at this point to state that these incidents are the product of improperly trained law-enforcement officers, who lack education, training or experience dealing with citizens or lack basic human discipline. Indeed, law enforcement is part of the very fabric of life, and it undoubtedly impacts on virtually every institution and sphere of activity. Therefore, we are of the collective opinion that this particular incident must be dealt with swiftly and necessary action should be taken to prevent repetition of the same.
A thorough investigation must be conducted in regard to this case where law-enforcement officers have inflicted severe physical harm, leading to serious injury, and any of the law-enforcement officers involved, who have committed such wrongful acts of police brutality, must be held accountable. We are of the collective opinion that this particular incident must be dealt with swiftly and necessary action should be taken to prevent repetition of the same.
Furthermore, we call on the State Leaders, Bar Association of Sri Lanka and all other relevant authorities to commit or recommit themselves to changing this system and the attitudes and practices that perpetuate it. We must speak out when the essential human dignity of anyone is denied. As the Law Students Union of Sri Lanka, we unequivocally condemn this unlawful act of violence that in many ways impacts on the values that we are taught to and intend to uphold as Law Students and detrimentally affects the dignity of the noble profession that we aspire to step into, one day.
Every individual has the right to liberty and security. All persons have dignity. The police brutality must stop!
Fiat justitia ruat caelum – Let justice be done though the heavens fall!
The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday (21) moved Supreme Court against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana over his failure to provide funds required by the Election Commission to conduct the Local Government polls, ignoring an interim order issued by the apex court, on 03 March.
Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP, is the petitioner for the SJB and Vijitha Herath, MP, moved court on behalf of the JVP, the leading party in the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB).
Two Opposition parties declared action against Siriwardana the day after the Freedom People’s Alliance (FPA) issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Finance Secretary to release the funds.
EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa is on record as having said that in spite of SC directive he didn’t receive fresh funding.
The petitioners sought the issuance of summons on Siriwardana for contempt of court over failure to carry out its interim orders, given on 03 March.
The petitioners want the Finance Secretary punished in terms of Article 105 (3) of the Constitution.
The SJB stated that Siriwardana had refrained from carrying out the March directives, on the basis of a Cabinet decision, taken on 13 Feb., 2023. The SJB also pointed out that the offensive conduct of the Treasury Secretary, inter alia, causes grave prejudice to the esteemed authority of the Supreme Court and in turn disturb the public confidence in the authority of the highest Court in the country. (SF)
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara told Parliament yesterday that fuel prices would be reduced considerably according to the fuel price formula at the next fuel price revision, due in April.
The Minister said that the government would be able to procure fuel shipments, at lower prices, during competitive bidding, with the receipt of the IMF bailout.
There had been practical issues, and problems, in opening Letters of Credit, and obtaining credit facilities, in the recent past, as Sri Lanka could not give a guarantee to fuel suppliers, Minister Wijesekara said.
“We could not open LCs and obtain credit facilities when procuring fuel. After the IMF bailout, we will be able to procure fuel at lower prices during competitive biddings. We will be able to obtain a long-term credit facility as well. Fuel prices in the global market seem to have declined and the rupee has also gained strength against the US Dollar. Having considered all these factors, fuel prices will be reduced by a considerable margin which could be felt by the people,” he said.
News
IGP tells CID not to brook any interference from any quarter while they probe ’Harak Kata’ and ‘Kudu Salindu’
By Norman Palihawadane
IGP CD Wickramaratne has directed the CID to maintain a special log of names and details of any attempts by external parties to influene the ongoing investigations on notorious drug traffickers Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne aka Harak Kata and Salindu Malshika aka Kudu Salindu.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the CID.
The IGP issued the orders to the DIG CID and its director during a meeting of senior police officers on Monday, police headquarters said.
Sources said that the IGP has further instructed not to allow statements from the detainees to be taken by any police team other than the team currently investigating the suspects.
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