Lawless state: Unjustly criminalised citizen fights back

COLOMBO (News1st) - The businessman who was assaulted by police officers on Tuesday, in Colpetty visited the Police Commission today.

A group of police officers, including the OIC of Minor Crimes from the Colpetty Police, manhandled a businessman along a private road leading from Galle Road to the beach. The businessman, accompanied by his attorneys, filed a complaint with the Police Commission against the officers in question. The businessman, his brother and son were arrested by police and released on bail, after having been produced before Fort Magistrate, Lanka Jayaratne. According to the businessman, this incident took place against a backdrop where a case was taken up with regard to another building located adjacent to his business establishment. The Fort Magistrate issued an order to the respondent of a case relating to an unauthorised structure which should be demolished within a period of three months. If he fails to do so, the court will issue an order to the Urban Development Authority to carry out the demolition.