r Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

Police will use maximum powers to control the tense situations

May 15, 2019

Srilanka Air Force took swift actions to control the tense situation that occurred in Minuangoda area yesterday (13 May), Troops from several air force camps were deployed to the location. The commander of Srilanka Air Force has decided to deploy our air assets, specially the Helicopters in day or night to assist in the control of illegal assemblies and acts of violence. Further, we have already taken actions to take aerial photography evidence using helicopters that will use as legal evidence in the actions of law and helicopters will further be used to airlift the troops as rapid actions to required locations in day or night time, said the Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne during the press briefing at the Media Centre in Kollupitiya, last evening (14 May).

A tense situation occurred yesterday in Kurunagala,Nikawaratiya,Minuwangoda,Wariyapola,Kuliyapitiya and Chilaw area due to some irresponsible acts by some narrow-minded group of personal. It is confirmed that this was not a religious or racial problem. Even though the damages were reported in mentioned areas Police Curfew was enforced to whole nation as an act of safety. Thereafter if some individual or group of personal tries to act or make this kind of situations Police will use maximum powers to control the situation, written orders regarding the use of police powers were distributed to senior police officers by Police headquarters by yesterday night, revealed the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara during the press briefing last evening (14 May).

Investigations regarding the tense situation at those areas are in progress. 9 suspects were taken into custody by yesterday (13) night regarding Minuwangoda situation and another 5 suspects were taken into custody for same reason by today (14) morning. Those 14 suspects were forwarded to Minuwangoda magistrate court and were remanded until 29 May. Those suspects were forwarded to the court according the regulations under emergency act of law. If those suspects found guilty they can be sentenced up to 10 years imprisonment, further stated the Police Spokesman.

As a count more than 60 personal were taken into custody at Northwestern province for breaking the curfew laws and making the tense situation. However, 9 suspects from Hettipola and 10 suspects from Kuliyapitiya area were identified as suspect for making the tense situation and damaging the properties were forwarded to respective magistrate courts and were remanded until 27 May. Other suspects in police custody will be forwarded to respective courts today. Some senior police officers together with special police team which will be functions from police headquarters are been dispatched to Northwestern province as extra troops to control and investigate the situation. Special police unit has been established at police headquarters to take legal actions against the persons who are spreading the false news through the social media networks which will lead to tense and fear situation among the general public. Further, 3 suspects were taken in to custody by Mathara police who have used social media to spread false news were forwarded to Mathara magistrate court and were remanded until 27 May. A special police team has arrested Namal Kumara at Warakapola, Amith Weerasignhe at Theldeniya areas respectively for suspicion of making the tense situation and Liyanage Abeyrathne Suresh Priyasad surrender himself to Colombo Crime Division as he was a required person questioning for same incidents, revealed the Police Spokesman.