Police inaction led to terror in Deraniyagala-Mithrapala

17 August 2013 02:44 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Deputy Minister H.R.Mithrapala responding to allegations against him said it was Police inaction over the ‘reign of terror’ atNoori and Maliboda that led to the villagers suffering at the hands of former Deraniyagala PS Chairman Anil Champika alias Athakota.

“Each time there was an incident, I informed the Police but they didn’t take any action against Athakota. I even informed senior police officers but to-date they have failed to confiscate his pistol,” he said.

The deputy minister said that he had even gone public on the atrocities committed by Anil Champika and his brood of gangsters.

“I informed the district coordinating meeting attended by police officers about the crimes committed by this man but sadly no action was taken,” he said
The deputy minister whom villagers accused of providing political patronage to Anil Champika prior to the two of them falling out said he was instrumental in preventing the ‘warlord’ from obtainingSLFP nominations in 2011.

“I worked on the recommendations of the ‘BalaMandalaya’ in 2007 and he got the highest number of votes. Thereafter it was decided to appoint him as the Chairman. Athakota told me that if I had a choice in the decision I would have never appointed him and that is very true. In 2011 I flatly refused to give him nominations” he said.
The Deraniyagala SLFP organiser said he did not want to make any commentswhen asked about the political patronage alleged to have been provided by Chief Minister MaheepalaHerath to Athakota,.

“I don’t wish to comment,” he said.

Anil Champika and his cohorts are accused of carrying out a ‘reign of terror’, including mass scale atrocities such as torture, rape, arson, robbery and murder.

When asked about the deputy minister Mithrapala’s election campaigning with Athakota in Thissamaharama during the 2011 elections, he said that it was an SLFP decision. He had participated in the election campaign with all PradeshiyaSabha Chairmen.

“Yes I went to Tissamaharama with him but that was because he was the Chairman of the PradeshiyaSabha and it was under the instructions of the party,” he said.
The SLFP strongman also denied any involvement with KirihenaDammika another warlord in Maliboda, an hour’s drive from Noori.

“He did not give me any vehicles during my election campaign, he was aUNPer and I had not provided or taken any support from this man,” he said.
Mr.Mithrapala said if not for the exposure, it would have been impossible to campaign in these areas.

“I would have had to counter them with guns and bullets, which is not the way I do politics, if they were not arrested. I’m happy that they have all been under arrest and are under scrutiny,” he said.

When asked why the deputy minister had not taken any action against the blatant abuse of power by the ‘Athakota’ and his cohorts and the alleged Police inaction, Mr. Mithrapala said he did his utmost to inform relevant authorities.

“I did my best, what else could I do except keep urging the Police to take this man into custody. I did that each time I was informed about a crime or I heard about some atrocity,” he said and added thatreign of terror exposed so far was not confined to the two electorates in Deraniyagala but extendedto many other electorates around the country.(Hafeel Farisz)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 11

Shan Saturday, 17 August 2013 02:57 AM

Police inaction is the symptom, not the cause. Just like the cases involving anti muslim activities.

Thomas Ranger Saturday, 17 August 2013 03:09 AM

Too little too late, Mr. Deputy Minister - don't try to pass the buck but expose your inefficiency.

Wimal_Modawansa Saturday, 17 August 2013 03:30 AM

Case closed.Now we move to Grandpass.

Amdon Saturday, 17 August 2013 03:33 AM

Yeah Right!!!!!...

Andrew Pitugala Saturday, 17 August 2013 03:47 AM

So you just watched it happening without doing anything about it ??????

Grace Saturday, 17 August 2013 03:58 AM

Now blame game has started.

Kondebedapucheena Saturday, 17 August 2013 07:43 AM

Meya Thottha Baba

jagathroshan Saturday, 17 August 2013 02:12 PM

Hi babiies ,Im muttipala,im cool, I dont no what went on .....Im far away ............. perhaps....light years away from these.......pls keep me cool
bye bye -Pin gona

crick Saturday, 17 August 2013 04:50 PM

is he a baba?

Nims Sunday, 18 August 2013 04:53 AM

LTTE's ethnic cleansing in the North was much worse

mc Monday, 19 August 2013 08:45 AM

shameless talk as usual.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Police inaction led to terror in Deraniyagala-Mithrapala

Comments - 11

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations