The order was issued in the backdrop of the death of a carpenter due to Police firing in Narammala.

With publicity given on YouTube channels and Facebook to female beggars with small children, there is a tendency for many women to turn to this path, claims DIG Renuka Jayasundara, the Chief of Police in charge of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Division.

She points out that this also inconveniences drivers stopping at traffic lights.

A report by the ‘Aruna’ newspaper further notes :

It is also said that some YouTube channels have also published videos on helping such women with the intention of becoming more popular.

DIG Jayasundara claims that the more help they receive, the higher the tendency of them getting more addicted to drugs.

Noting that this has also raised serious concerns on child protection, DIG Jayasundara further notes that the children of such women are mostly malnourished.

Some are even addicted to drugs, she added.

The Child and Women Abuse Prevention Division further says that due to drug addiction, at least one new face tends to turn to street begging every day.

(Source : Aruna)

The Police Media Division said the transfers have been approved by the National Police Commission and have been implemented under the orders of the IGP.

Accordingly, Senior DIG U. P. A. D. K. P. Karunanayake who was in charge of the Community Police and Environment Protection Range was transferred to the Western Province Traffic Range.

DIG G. I. D. R. Wijesinghe who served in that position was moved to the Galle Range.

Acting DIG L. A. U. Sarath Kumara, who served as the DIG in charge of the Batticaloa Range, was appointed as the DIG in charge of the Western Province Crimes Range.

Acting DIG W. K. J. R. Dias, who served as the DIG in charge of the Western Province Crimes Range, was appointed as the DIG in charge of the Community Police and Environment Protection Range.

Acting DIG A. L. U. N. P. Liyanage who was in charge of the Galle Range was moved to the Batticaloa Range as the DIG in Charge.

Police say they found the ATM machine as well as a pistol in the possession of the suspects.

They further mention that the pistol was one that was stolen from the house of Puttalam District MP – Ali Sabry, which was torched during the ‘Aragalaya’ protests last year.

The arrest was made based on a tip-off received by the OIC of the Kandana Police, Chief Inspector Gamini Herath.

The couple, aged 23 and 27, were identified as residents of Gothatuwa. Although it was earlier suspected that the couple had fled the country, he has now been revealed that their attempt to do so has failed.

The probe is in regard with yesterday’s (12) incident where 2 female Police officers were manhandled by a male officer and how several female protestors were arrested in Panadura.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Talduwa pointed out that the Police respects the rights enshrined in the Constitution, which ensures the right to freedom of assembly and the right to freedom of expression.

Moreover, he stressed that the Police continuously emphasize on protecting the rights of women, and the special probe will also focus on whether the female Police officer was wronged in this regard.

Future action will be taken in accordance with the recommendations made by the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, SSP Thalduwa added.

Video circulating on social media over the manhandling of female protesters and female police officers, sparked severe widespread criticism and condemnation.

Arrested for not having NIC

In a separate incident, well known PR professional – Anusha David says her assistant who was feeding stray dogs on the road last night (12), was arrested by the Thalangama police for failing to produce his NIC.

He had not been released despite Ms. David producing her assistant’s ID within minutes. According to Ms. David, the police refused to speak to her legal representative as well as MP Harsha de Silva. After contacting both the IGP and BASL Chairman – Saliya Peries P.C., and herself giving a statement, the assistant was later released.

What a shame

In a Facebook post, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) – Saliya Peries P.C. has said “Police brutality continues because of the failure and the lethargic attitude of those who have the power and authority to deal with them. What a shame.”

(Video : News1st)

Accordingly, the OIC was transferred to the Kandy Division with immediate effect.

Unidentified persons threw bottles at the Consulate office causing damages to the security guard post last night.

CCTV footage obtained by the investigators show that a black colour car with a registration number commencing with EP (Eastern Province) was responsible for the attack.

A Police team visited the scene soon after the attack and recorded statements while investigations are underway.

(Report / Pics : timesonline.lk)

The vehicle is said to be owned by former deputy minister – Nishantha Muthuhettigama.

Police say that the vehicle, an Isuzu Bighorn, lacked registration documents. Reports say that he had illegally brought it down on a duty-free basis while he was functioning as the deputy minister of Ports.

Despite being a new model, it had borne an older number and this had triggered doubts. Investigators have now found that the number originally belongs to another vehicle.

The vehicle was stopped for inspection in Galle and was impounded by the officers of the anti-corruption unit in Walana.

It was also revealed that the vehicle was being driven by a police constable attached to the Galle police at the time of the raid. He is said to have worked in the MSD previously.

Upon being questioned, the constable had revealed that the vehicle was owned by Nishantha Muthuhettigama.

Police are also investigating how a policeman is working as a driver while being in the police service.

(Source : Adaderana)