Police in collusion with crimes in Middeniya, Hulftsdorp -Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala

• Says these crimes are isolated incidents and no threat to national security

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

In the wake of reports about some police personnel being  involved in recent murders, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala  said yesterday he would take tough action regarding such incidents.   

The Minister told Parliament that it is clear that some  state institutions, especially the police were aiding underworld  activities.   

He said, as the Minister in charge of police, he had paid  serious attention to the matter. “I have taken decisions regarding that  matter and I expect to take firm decisions in the future as well,” he  said.   

Minister Wijepala said investigations have revealed that  police personnel are suspected to have been involved in the recent  shooting incidents in Hulftsdorp Court Complex and Middeniya.   

Making a special statement in parliament, he said the  government has paid serious attention to the escalating organised crimes  in the country and that they are isolated incidents and pose no threats  to national security.  He said the government has given full freedom to the police  to conduct investigations without any political intervention and that  investigations are being conducted efficiently.   

The Minister said suspects in connection with crimes  committed two, or three decades ago are still to be arrested but,  suspects in recent crimes have been arrested within hours.   

“For the last two, three decades, the underworld was nurtured  with the blessing of the politicians. After the NPP government came to  power, the underworld received no political protection, unlike in the past. No  NPP MP or Minister maintains connections with the underworld,” he said.   

He said the government was taking all actions to combat  the underworld and that some actions cannot be revealed due to security  reasons.   

Two police constables were arrested in connection with the recent murders in Hulftsdorp and Middeniya.