Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-04-23 22:35:00
28 June 2018 04:28 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A tense situation erupted on Tuesday between Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development Deputy Minister Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma and Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel at the Andarawewa Forest Reserve in Suriyawewa when the STF attempted to thwart an alleged illegal sand transportation.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the deputy minister criticized the STF officers’ behaviour and outlook and said the officers had violated many rules and regulations of the country.
According to sources, several Suriyawewa STF camp officer in civvies conducted a raid to nab illegal sand transporters around noon and had searched several Tipper trucks near the forest reserve following a tip received.
The STF officers held two lorry drivers and their mobile phones after they noticed several irregularities in their sand permits, while a few STF officers went to check the mining location.
The Deputy Minister, who was at the forest reserve to monitor renovation work of an electric fence, had crashed into the scene following information received from the villagers and had allegedly lambasted the STF officers.
After crashing into the scene, the Deputy Minister had questioned our officers why they were in civvies,” an officer who were on the raid said.
“He had also forced our officers to return the mobile phones that they took into custody for prevent any leakage of information,” he said.
A top brass STF officer said that the Deputy Minister had obstructed their officers using inappropriate words making way to the escape of several illegal sand transporters.
Deputy Minister Thewarapperuma said that due to the STF officers unruly behaviour public rights were violated in broad daylight.
“Officers were like underworld thugs wearing shorts and slippers and with beards. If it was an official raid that should have been done in uniform. the innocent public were inconvenienced because of this,” he said.
He also said that when the matter was informed to the STF Suriyawewa Camp, a high ranking officer with around 30 officers came into the scene with guns loaded in an ambulance and several other vehicles.
The Deputy Minister said that according to the International Red Cross move no weapons can be transported inside an ambulance therefore the STF had also violated international norms.
He said although the matter was informed to the Suriyawewa Police OIC and the STF Commandant, Senior DIG M R Latheef no action was taken. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
Video by Roshan Gunasekara
Nimal Thursday, 28 June 2018 05:46 PM
This donkey has to poke his nose into everything. First it was the hospital training exercise. Now this...
mnsmart Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:58 PM
could have shot this idiot
Nic Thursday, 28 June 2018 08:13 PM
This guy is behind this sand and many other illegal rackets. Don't forget he is a street thug.
Ash Thursday, 28 June 2018 05:53 PM
Another thug in politics
Handipora Thursday, 28 June 2018 05:54 PM
No action should be taken on allegations of an insane person. STF carry out your duties regardless of this stupid act of a person who is not fit to be a Deputy Minister at the first instance.
Nihal Amarasekera Thursday, 28 June 2018 06:29 PM
Thewarapperuma, devarak sithnna before you clash with STF whom the general public has faith on.
dickie bird Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:26 PM
STF chiken out ? Mr. Latheef, why ?
nihal Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:36 PM
will learn a very good lesson shortly. This a very good sample for the proverb, "A similarity of a deli pihiya has given to monkey"
666 Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:51 PM
There is a Sinhalese saying 'Like giving a Monkey a razor'The monkey does not know how to use the razor and ends up cutting himself and others around him. This man also does not know the limitations of his ministerial powers. He pokes his finger into each and every pie and ends up upsetting everything
c.goonetilleke Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:59 PM
Ranil Wickremasinghe is destroying this country with lame leadership qualities. It is very sad to see an imbecile challenging the covert work of STF. These idiots always play for the Gallery and RW tolerates everything because he doesn't have guts to address these issues.
mnsmart Thursday, 28 June 2018 07:59 PM
we the public are with the STF 100%
Manel Thursday, 28 June 2018 08:01 PM
Mr. Thevarappeuma, you are an admirable person and also please do not forget that you too were a service person some time ago. When it comes to army, navy, air force .or police settle matters amicably.
Ruwan Thursday, 28 June 2018 08:33 PM
Is he the new "Mervin Silva"?
shawn Saturday, 30 June 2018 05:54 PM
Thewarapperuma, all your actions show your character, it can be, common rascal, thug, uneducated village man etc. on, if you read English, read comments above, it will give an idea how the people of this country think of you,
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.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
Is the situation in Sri Lanka so grim that locals harbour hope that they coul
A recent post on social media revealed that three purple-faced langurs near t
