United Republican Front leader Patali Champika Ranawaka emphasized that public security and law and order in the country have seriously collapsed.
Speaking further at a media briefing on public security and law and order, Patali Champika Ranawaka said:
“Since January 1st, 22 people have died in 28 shootings. The police themselves state that 18 of these were apparently murders committed by organized crime gangs. This is a very serious situation.”
He alleged that the police have become a headless gang due to the remand of the IGP and the ongoing conflicts between the acting IGP and senior officers.
“The country does not have an IGP. There is an acting IGP. The police chief has been arrested and imprisoned by the police themselves. So, in such a situation, not only has the police become a headless entity, but we see that various corrupt groups that were active in the police in the past are now organizing in a different way and are working to establish their own existence with the actions of this government.”
Mr. Ranawaka expressed his opinion that the government is severely influencing the independence of the Police Commission and that the transfer of more than 130 police officers without any reason is political revenge.
“If police officers are transferred on the orders of the Election Commission during the last presidential election because they will tear up posters of the National People’s Power, that is a very serious issue. That is what is being done to politicize the police among police officers. This attempt is to turn the police into a police force for their own party.”
He further alleged that the rule of law in the country has collapsed due to the lack of implementation of the law and the capricious policies of the President’s close associates, and that the people have been tempted to take the law into their own hands.
“Only the President is above the law. There is no way that there are presidents with immunity in this government. Some people cannot be arrested. They cannot be brought under the CID. The government is following a capricious policy. Keeping anyone above the law, allowing some drug lords to remain as co-presidents, must be completely stopped. A situation must be created where the law applies to everyone.”
Mr. Ranawaka called on the government to immediately remove the IGP and appoint a new IGP, protect the independence of the Police Commission, stop political transfers, and improve the performance of the police. He also urged the government to bring organized crime gangs under the law and ensure the safety of the public.
United Republican Front Vice President Theekshana Gammanpila, who joined the press conference, said:
“Today, you all know that shootings are happening in various places in the country. All citizens of the country have a problem with the security of the public. When we look into this, some people think that the country is now unsafe and that we cannot go out on the streets. We would like to remind you. At the same time, our police, the Sri Lanka Police, which plays a leading role in public security, is making certain changes without any formal program, even though the public does not feel it at this time. Certain decisions are being made. This is why the fact that this effect has occurred has become socialized.”
Borella organizer Kingsley Perera, who is contesting under the ‘Pencil’ symbol of the United Republican Front in this year’s local government election, and party activists Nandana Lal Balasuriya and Dumindika Thiranagama were also present at this media conference.
