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Sajith rejects any police probe, calls for ex-judges’ panel

20 Apr 2022

  • Wants ex-SC judge panel to probe Rambukkana
  • SJB to ensure welfare of deceased’s family
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that the Opposition could not trust any Police investigation into the Police shooting at a protest in the Rambukkana area – in which one person was killed and more than 30 were injured on Tuesday (19) – Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a panel of inquiry comprising of retired Supreme Court (SC) judges to investigate the said incident. Speaking in Parliament yesterday (20), he stated: “We do not accept the Police investigations into this incident. Therefore, we need a panel of inquiry consisting of retired SC judges to be appointed, in a manner that is acceptable to all.” He also requested Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to promptly summon a list of individuals before Parliament, including Defence Ministry Secretary Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne, and the relevant Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) who, according to Premadasa, had ordered the shooting, as well as those politicians who were backing the said SSP. “Gunaratne, Alwis, Wickramaratne, the SSP in question, and the politicians backing the said SSP should be summoned to Parliament. We, as Party Leaders, need to question them with regard to this incident. Therefore, I request the Speaker to make the necessary arrangements,” he said. Premadasa further said that the SJB would come forward to ensure the welfare of the family and children of the Rambukkana resident who died in the shooting. He said that the SJB would take responsibility for the future of the deceased person’s two children and family members. One person was killed and more than 30 others were injured when the Police opened fire on protestors who were engaged in a protest over the prevailing fuel shortages and rising fuel prices in the Rambukkana area on Tuesday (19). The Police had fired tear gas to disperse protestors who were engaged in the protest blocking the railway track in the area, after which they had opened fire on those who were engaged in the protest.


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