Police deny drug claim over Kadawatha shooting

Police yesterday denied a claim by the mother of a youth who was shot during a police shooting incident, involving a three-wheeler, in Kadawatha, that officers had alleged the youths in the vehicle were transporting drugs.

The incident occurred on Saturday (October 31), when police opened fire after the three-wheeler allegedly failed to obey orders to stop.

Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler, speaking at a media briefing yesterday (November 01), described the mother’s claim as completely false.

He said the law required every driver to stop when signalled to do so by a police officer in uniform.

Wootler urged the public to comply with police orders to stop vehicles during security operations, saying such checks, although they may cause temporary inconvenience, were carried out in the interests of national security and public safety.

He also said allowing a person without a valid driving licence or an underage person to drive a motor vehicle was an offence under the Motor Traffic Act.

Legal action would be taken against the person who had allowed the underage youth involved in the Kadawatha incident to drive the three-wheeler, he said.

Wootler appealed to adults and senior citizens to act responsibly and cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order.

He said police arrests, inspections and search operations were being intensified, island-wide, to prevent illegal activities, drug trafficking and organised criminal activity, and to apprehend gunmen and those assisting such activities.

The Police Media Spokesperson said the operations had received considerable public cooperation.

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At least 21,356 people from 5,800 families have been affected by adverse weather and Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’ across Sri Lanka, as a new Cyclone, named ‘Murasu,’ intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, prompting a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said six people had died, eight were injured and three remained missing in weather-related incidents, between October 23 and November 01.

The adverse weather has affected 137 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, in 19 districts, while eight houses have been completely destroyed and another 737 partially damaged.

Ratnapura remains the worst affected district, with 10,051 people, from 2,666 families, affected across 15 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Puttalam follows, with 6,900 people, from 1,850 families, affected across 11 divisions.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology yesterday issued a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas, following the intensification of the deep depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal into Cyclone ‘Murasu’.

The warning, issued at 3 p.m. yesterday by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, will remain valid for 24 hours.

The Cyclone was located near latitude 12.1°N and longitude 85.3°E at 11.30 a.m., yesterday, and was moving west-northwestwards.

The Meteorology Department said ‘Murasu’ was very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the West-central Bay of Bengal today (02).

The system is thereafter expected to move northwestwards, and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India, as a severe cyclonic storm, between midnight on November 02 and the early hours of November 03.

The Department warned that winds in the affected sea areas could reach 70–80 kmph, accompanied by heavy thundershowers and very rough seas.

Naval and fishing communities have been strongly advised not to venture into deep-sea areas bounded by 10°N–15°N and 80°E–90°E until further notice.

Those already operating in the affected areas have been urged to move to safer locations.

The warning also covers deep-sea areas, extending from Mannar to Trincomalee, via Kankesanthurai, where fishing and naval communities have been advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor weather forecasts and further advisories.The Department urged all those operating at sea to follow official warnings as the Cyclone continues to intensify.

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the government of attempting to curtail the fundamental and human rights of the people through two new Bills, aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime.

Addressing an event at the Sri Subodhirajarama Viharaya, in Kusumgama, Gallalla, Polonnaruwa, Premadasa said citizens had the right to practice their religion, hold political beliefs, join political parties, express their views, hold meetings and engage in peaceful protests.

Premadasa alleged that the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and Organised Crime Prevention Bill would undermine judicial authority and give excessive powers to the Executive. He claimed the legislation would allow the Executive to determine who could be classified as a terrorist, or an organised criminal.

He further alleged that people could be targeted on the basis of their clothing, hairstyles or tattoos.

Premadasa said Sri Lanka needed legislation to combat terrorism in line with international conventions and agreements, but argued that the Bills, currently being introduced, would, instead, violate fundamental and human rights.

He accused the government of seeking to establish one-party rule and undermine democracy.

Premadasa also criticised the government over, what he described as, interference with Buddhist monks and their robes.

He said the Constitution had granted Buddhism a special status, while also recognising and protecting other religions, ethnic communities and cultures.

Recalling the establishment of a Cabinet Ministry for Buddha Sasana and separate State Ministries for other religions, under former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, he said those arrangements had subsequently been changed.

The Opposition Leader claimed the government had now gone as far as interfering with the robes of Buddhist monks.

He said any action affecting monks should be taken only after proper consultation, and in accordance with relevant circulars.Premadasa also accused the government of failing to apologise to the country over the incident.

CCTV cameras would be installed at every police station across the country to strengthen monitoring and oversight of police activities, Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said yesterday.

He said procurement for the project was already under way and arrangements would be made to monitor police stations through footage recorded by the cameras.

The move is expected to improve transparency and accountability at police stations, particularly amidst concerns over the treatment of suspects in police custody. However, police have not announced a deadline for completing the installation of the CCTV cameras or provided details on how the central monitoring system would operate.

The announcement comes amid renewed public scrutiny of incidents involving deaths and alleged mistreatment of suspects in police custody.

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