News
Public Security Minister asks SLPP to hold disciplinary inquiry against MP Jagath Kumara
By Norman Palihawadane
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said that he had asked the SLPP top brass to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against SLPP MP Jagath Kumara.
Minister Weerasekera told The Island that MP Jagath Kumara had resigned from the post of Padukka Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman for not appointing an OIC of his choice to the Padukka Police Station. “This I cannot do because I am against politicising the police service,” the Minister said.
The Minister said that the MP had contacted him soon after the OIC of Padukka Police was transferred out and requested to cancel that transfer order. “The OIC was transferred because there are several charges against him including the one that he kept two females in the station without a woman police officer. He had been removed on the recommendations from the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and the IGP, the minister said. MP Jagath Kumara had made requests both verbally and in writing to appoint an OIC known to him. “It is nothing but politicising the police service and that is the last thing I want to see as the Minister of Public Security. Thereafter the MP held a press conference criticising me therefore I asked the SLPP leaders to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the MP,” the Minister said.
MP Jagath Kumara addressing the media in Colombo yesterday said that he was not afraid of Weerasekera’s call for a disciplinary inquiry.
MP Kumara urged the minister not to push him into a situation where he would have to come out with what he did not want to disclose.
MP Kumara resigned from his post as Padukka Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman in protest against the appointment of a new OIC to the Padukka Police Station.
MP Kumara said that the appointment was politically motivated, and that the new OIC was a close associate of Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge.
MP Kumara said that he had his loyalty to the government, stating that when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost the presidential election, it was he who had organised a meeting in Tangalle fearlessly.
“When I organized that meeting, where were all these Ministers? Were they hiding in fear that their corruption cases would be taken up again?” he asked.
MP Kumara said that it was those who did not know the history of the SLPP made baseless allegations against him and called for disciplinary action against him.
The MP said that the teacher-principal protests would not have gone so far if some of the protesters had not been arrested and packed off to quarantine centres in faraway places.
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
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