Bar Association Slams Attorney Police Spokesman

January 25, 2016

Standing Committee on Rule of Law of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has today expressed it’s grave concern with regard to the unacceptable conduct of the Sri Lanka Police as evidenced by a series of recent incidents.

“The latest episode in this regard, viz: the death of a youth where the Officers of the Embilipitiya Police Station are implicated, records alleged conduct and behaviour unbecoming of any person in any responsible position, leave alone the Police.” the committee said in a statement.

Ruwan Gunasekara – Police Media Spokesman, Attorney-at-Law as well as Investigation Officer

The Committee records it’s strenuous objection with regard to the alleged conduct of the Officers of the Embilipitiya Police Station where there are serious allegations as well as reported evidence of deplorable conduct suggestive of criminality; gross aggravation; serious abuse of power; and absence of supervision and control, leading to the irresistible conclusion of anarchy within the Police Department.

The Rule of Law standing committee said; “Whilst respecting and without suggesting any prejudice and/ bias, on the on going judicial process into the incident, the Committee is concerned at the high-handed conduct of the Police Media Spokesman who was apparently playing several roles perhaps dubious in nature, namely as Media Spokesman, Attorney-at-Law as well as Investigation Officer.

“The Committee draws the attention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as well as the National Police Commission, to the said conduct of the Media Spokesman; the absence of credible action against the implicated suspect police officers attached to the Embilipitiya Police Station; manner of conduct of the Judicial Inquiry especially the non-inclusion of the Attorney- General’s Department or its officers; the absence of remedial, deterrent and punitive interim actions; non- investigation of complaints into the subsequent alleged conduct of the Police Officers involved in the related Inquiry, amongst a host of other irregularities.

“The Committee firmly believes that the IGP as well as the National Police Commission should immediately intervene in the present issue, to seek the Truth; Mete out Justice; and bring about reparations as well as to take constructive actions of a permanent nature to ensure non- recurrence.Read More