Maintain discipline in Sri Lanka Police; HRCSL tells IGP

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka states that the Police Chief take the necessary steps to maintain discipline in Sri Lanka Police to uphold the rule of law and maintain the peace.

It has also requested the Inspector General of Police to justify the reasons for restricting a protest march in Panadura last weekend.

The HRCSL said it is conducting a suo-moto investigation on the incident where the Chief Inspector of Kalutara pushed and shoved two female police officers and a female, and the orders to stop the peaceful march unlawfully and arrest the participants.

A peaceful march originating from Kalutara was stopped by the police in Panadura as admitted by the Chief Inspector of Panadura police before the Commission on 18th November 2022, reported the HRCSL.

The Police Chief was directed to forward to the Commission via an affidavit the reason for restricting the march and on whose command or orders the police stopped the march, who carried those commands or orders, and the action initiated by the police against the officers responsible.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka also observed that the Senior Superintendent of Police for the Panadura Police division had failed to protect the march participants by giving the necessary orders. 

The HRCSL stressed that the inappropriate behaviour of the police, as seen in the recent past, has already destroyed the confidence of the people and is rapidly destroying the country's good image internationally.