Lift operator complaints against former IGP allegedly Using criminal force

By Nimanthi Ranasinghe  

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the CID yesterday to conduct an investigation over the incident where it has been alleged that the former IGP Pujith Jayasundera had arrived at the CID without prior notice and abused the police officers who were at the reception counter and had used criminal force on the lift operator.  

The complainant Abeykoon Mudiyanselage Samarakoon Banda a resident of Neligama Ragama, had stated to the CID that on 1 April 11, 2017 when he was functioning as the lift operator at the CID, the former IGP Pujith Jayasundera had threatened him to stop the lift that was transporting garbage and goods, while holding him by his shirt collar and abusing him in most foul language.  

The CID stated to courts that they had commenced an investigation in accordance with clauses 344, 346, and 483 of the Sri Lanka Penal Code relating to the use of criminal force on a State employee, and assault and submitted to courts the findings of the three units of the special investigation committee. The Magistrate having considered these submissions ordered the CID to conduct an investigation regarding this conduct of the former IGP.  

The CID also informed courts that they had recorded statements from six police officers - a Woman Police SI Chrishanthi Shiromani Wickramasinghe, Police Sergeant Loku Liyana Chandana Premalal, PCs Sanjaya Abeyusinghe, Lahiru Prasad, Kumara Rathnayake, Civil Defence Force officer Lalni Swarna Theja and office assistant Vidana Muhandiramge Hemantha Pushpakumara Siriwardene.  The CID in their report had stated that Police Woman SI Shiromani Wickramasinghe had declared in her statement that the former IGP had come unannounced as they were bowing to the National Anthem that was played and using very foul language had scolded every one present there and approaching her had used very abusive language and demanded why the lift was not stopped and coming back from the above floor had threatened her saying that he will deal with her. Ms Wickramasinghe was subjected to much humiliation and felt ashamed by the words used by the IGP.