Police officer promotions questioned in SL Parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 2004, 10:29 GMT]
Interior Minister in the former United National Front (UNF) government, John Amaratunge, raised concerns about the service promotions given recently to police officers by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government under the leadership of Ms.Kumaratunge. He accused the UPFA government of giving recognition to corrupt officers and those who are associated with drug trade, parliamentary sources said.

Speaking on a motion submitted by the ruling UPFA parliamentarians, Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgama, expressed his disatisfaction on ignoring Police Officers who fought against Liberation Tigers.

UNP parliamentarian Gamini Lokuge complained that Sri Lanka's president has appointed many underworld figures to positions in the President's security division. On Wimal Weerawanse's accusation that there was widespread corruption in the Police force [in the UNF's Government], Mr Lokuge pointed out that only in June nearly three thousand police officers were felicitated at the President's official residence.

When responding to UNP parliamentarian's complaints, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle praised Head of Tamil Eelam Police, Mr. Nadesan, and noted that Sri Lanka police can learn from the conduct of officers under Mr.Nadesan's leadership.

Sivanathan Kishor and Sivajilingam, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians, speaking during the debate, said that corrupt practices are absent within the Liberation Tigers' police force in the NorthEast and that people are not afraid to approach the officers to address their complaints to have disputes resolved.

They charged that Tamil people still face harassment and hardship from the Sri Lanka police. Searches in Lodges and increase in checkpoints in Vavuniya only serve to increase the feeling of insecurity, they added.