Embilipitiya Magistrate gives shocking order

By Mahinda Therasinghe and Rupasena paththuwa-2016-01-28

Embilipitiya Additional Magistrate Prasanna Fernando yesterday ordered the CID to arrest former Embilipitiya ASP and HQI in connection with the clash which resulted in the death of Sumith Prasanna Jayawardene on 4 January in Embilipitiya.
The Additional Magistrate also ordered the CID to arrest all suspects involved in the case which caused an uproar in Embilipitiya earlier this month. Former Embilipitiya ASP D.W.C. Dharmaratne and former HQI Dinendra Dias will hence be arrested by the CID in accordance with the Embilipitiya Magistrate's order.

The clash involving several officers from the Embilipitiya Police Station and several civilians attending a function at a residence there resulted in the death of Prasanna Jayawardene and injuries to several others.
The Attorney General handed over investigations in this case to the CID on Friday, 22 January.
Four policemen and three civilians were hospitalised with injuries following the clash at a residence down Nawa Nagara Road in Embilipitiya on 4 January. One civilian succumbed to his injuries a few days later.

A family member of the deceased claimed that the victim Sumith Prasanna was beaten up and then shoved off the top floor of the house. Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera however, said the victim had jumped from the balcony.
Villagers alleged that two policemen asking for liquor from the home owners at the party had triggered the clash.
ASP Ruwan Gunasekera was present at the Embilipitiya Magistrate's Court throughout the two days during which witnesses were cross-examined about the incident.

Attorney Vijitha Punchihewa appeared for the aggrieved party.
Following protests by supporters and relatives of the victim against the presence of the Police spokesman at the cross-examination of the witnesses, Gunasekera was withdrawn from the venue on the advice of the IGP.
When the witnesses were questioned about the death of Sumith Prasanna yesterday the ASP Gunasekera's absence was conspicuous.
The victim's wife said under questioning earlier at the Embilipitiya Court that "The ASP of the Embilipitiya Police Station attacked my husband before he was pushed down the stairs. At that stage I begged the ASP not to assault my husband as I was pregnant. But those pleas fell on deaf ears. When I went to my husband he told me that nothing had happened to him and asked me not to be scared. I went to the police station to lodge a complaint but the officers there told me that there was no need to lodge a complaint against the police. They tried to convince me that my husband is a murderer. Then it dawned on me that I cannot get any justice from the police."