The Police stated that an investigation is yet to be initiated into the complaint lodged by Inter-University Students’ Federation Convenor Wasantha Mudalige with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne, requesting action against police officers involved in various harassments including death threats which Mudalige claimed he faced while in custody, as it has only been two days as of yesterday (9) since the relevant complaint was lodged.
When The Daily Morning contacted Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa, he said: “He has lodged the complaint on Tuesday (7). The complaint should be referred to the IGP first, and it should then be forwarded to the relevant division. This process takes some time. When such work is done, an investigation will be launched. However, there is no progress with regard to it as of now.”
In response to a query regarding whether the Police would initiate any inquiry against the police officers concerned, he said that such an inquiry can be initiated only after carrying out an investigation into the allegations levelled against them by Mudalige.
On Tuesday (7), Mudalige lodged a complaint with the IGP against a particular number of police officers including Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Peliyagoda Police Station Mahinda Willawaarachchi, who has allegedly threatened him with death; Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Director and SSP Prasanna Alwis and ASP Lasantha Ratnayake of the TID who have allegedly harassed him during his detention under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA); and ASP Ajantha Rodrigo, who has allegedly given false evidence against him in the case under the PTA.
Mudalige, after being released from the case filed by the TID under the PTA, levelled several allegations against the Police on 2 February, claiming that certain police officers had threatened to kill him in a similar fashion to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Leader Rohana Wijeweera and actor-cum-politician Vijaya Kumaratunga, when he was arrested in August 2022. He also said that the Police had covered him, a monk, and another activist with cloth and taken them to several locations that had no connection with the related investigations.