IGP under heat to resign

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 October 2003, 14:28 GMT]
The Sihala Urumaya, a Sinhala nationalist party in Sri Lanka, has called for the resignation of Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), T.E.Anandarajah, saying the IGP is “misusing his position of authority” and “supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,” and has warned it would conduct a protest campaign against the IGP, media sources in Colombo said.

Recently, the Sinhala press published photographs of the IGP attending a birthday function of the daughter of a figure allegedly involved in drug trafficking. On hearing about the publication, the IGP shortened his visit abroad and returned to Sri Lanka Monday.

The Interior Ministry held a press conference Tuesday to address the charges in the Sinhala press. The Interior Minister, Mr. John Amaratunga, speaking to the press, said that the IGP had two years ago attended a birthday function at the invitation of a friend from the village where he was born.

“Currently, that friend is alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. However, it is unfair and meaningless to accuse the IGP for this. The Criminal Investigations Department is conducting an inquiry into the allegation. We can make any conclusions only after that inquiry is completed,” he said.

The Minister added that unscrupulous elements were trying to find a conspiracy and that the publication of such accusations was intended to demean a high office.

Mr. Anandarajah, who attended the conference, said, “I have completed 36 years in the Police service. I have always worked for the growth and development of the Police department. I did not commit anything untoward for anyone to point an accusing finger at me. The Police department knows this. I receive a large number of invitations to attend functions. I cannot investigate the background of everyone before attending functions.”