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Arundika admits likely hand in Wennappuwa ASP’s transfer 

01 Apr 2021

  • ‘Police might have started investigation based on my letter and as a result, he got transferred’ 

  Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to Wennappuwa, Eric Perera might have been transferred due to a letter sent by him acknowledging the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification Arundika Fernando.  Speaking to The Morning yesterday (31), Fernando said that he had sent a letter in December last year to Minister of Public Security, Sarath Weerasekera, requesting for the transfer of Wennappuwa ASP Perera due to allegations made against him by the public.  “I have no personal issues against ASP Perera. I believe that he is a good officer and he is personally known to me. But I had to take action against the allegations. I also believe that the Police might have started an investigation according to my letter and as a result, he got transferred in March,” Fernando claimed.  The letter, published on social media, has been addressed to Dr. Weerasekera.  State Minister Fernando is said to have requested for the ASP to be transferred out of the Chilaw area, over various allegations including regarding his appointment during the former United National Front led Government.  The transfer has caused much controversy, with many claiming that ASP Perera was an honest officer who was fighting the drug menace and that his transfer had been carried out due to undue political influence to safeguard those involved in the drugs business.  Fernando went on to list out further reasons for the ASP’s transfer.  “ASP Perera is a resident of Wennappuwa and should be transferred because according to the law, a Police officer cannot work in a station in which he is a resident of. Also, he was not attending the development committees in the Wennappuwa and Dankotuwa areas and the public was annoyed about that. During these committees, I was concerned about drug related issues and the big time drug dealers who handle the drug rackets. ASP Perera was never concerned about the big time drug dealers; he only arrested small time drug dealers. He also tried to arrest some of these small time drug dealers under fake charges. How ethical is that?”  ASP Perera is currently posted at the Negombo Police Station based on a request submitted by the latter.  Meanwhile, MP Weerasekera earlier said that ASP Perera was transferred due to various reasons and that an investigation is underway into the various reasons cited for ASP Perera’s transfer.  However, Police Media Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Ajith Rohana, speaking to The Morning said that ASP Perera was transferred due to a service requirement.


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