'Be impartial' police warned
The judiciary in Sri Lanka have warned police in Ratnapura district not to be partial in their investigations over election violence.
Ratnapura additional magistrate, MMM Mihail, told open court that police action over recent attacks on opposition politicians was 'unsatisfactory'. He made the comments as the police submitted a confusing B report over the attack on popular actor and Chief Ministerial candidate Ranjan Ramanayaka's convoy on 13 August. Ramanayaka and United National party (UNP) supporters including Dunesh Gankanda, MP, came under mob attack in Gallella, Wewelwatta. The police have arrested four members of the ruling United Peoples freedom Alliance (UPFA) after the incident. Second warning to police However, the report submitted by Wewelwatta police chief Saman Liyanage stated the four were UNP supporters who attacked the property of an UPFA supporter. The court released the suspects on bail and ordered the police to file a correct a report on charges against the suspects. It is the second time that the police in Sabaragamuwa province were accused of failing to conduct impartial investigations. Ratnapura magistrate Jagath A Kahandagamage warned the police on 12 August not to be partial and conduct just and legal investigations over complaints on election violence. Judge Kahandagame made the remarks after releasing five supporters of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on bail. Three of the suspects have sustained injuries in a clash with UPFA supporters on 10 August. Opposition supporters accuse the police of not taking any action against ruling party supporters who unleash violence in the run up to Provincial Council (PC) elections. However Sabaragamuwa Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Uplali Hewage, earlier told BBC Sandeshaya that JVP was deliberately inciting election violence. Elections for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central PCs are to held on 23 August.