An inquiry had been initiated into the conduct of a Sapugaskanda Police officer for not administering a breathalyser test or producing the suspect – National People’s Power MP Asoka Ranwala – before a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) in accordance with standard protocol, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler confirmed yesterday (13).

He said disciplinary action would be taken against the officer concerned for failing to perform his duties properly.

The accident occurred late on the night of Thursday (11) in the Denimulla area of Sapugaskanda in the Gampaha District, when the jeep in which Ranwala was travelling collided head-on with a car. 

Police said three occupants of the car – a 25-year-old woman, her six-month-old infant, and her 55-year-old mother – had sustained injuries and had been admitted to the hospital. The infant had later been transferred to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children for specialised treatment.

Ranwala had also sustained injuries in the collision and had been admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), Colombo. While he was undergoing treatment, officers from the Sapugaskanda Police had visited the hospital as part of the investigation.

Explaining the sequence of events, ASP Wootler said: “Officers from the Sapugaskanda Police proceeded to the NHSL, where they observed that the individual was under medical treatment. They did not conduct a sobriety test at that time but instead requested a medical report from the attending doctor.”

He added that the report had not been received yet. 

The Police Spokesperson further acknowledged that no arrangements had been made at the scene of the accident to administer a breathalyser test or to produce the suspect before a JMO.

Ranwala was formally arrested on Friday (12), while he was receiving treatment at the NHSL. The Police said that he had been taken into custody on charges of dangerous driving and failing to prevent an accident. 

He was later produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court and released on cash bail of Rs. 200,000. Although he remains hospitalised, the Police confirmed that he was no longer in custody.

Addressing public criticism over the absence of an immediate breathalyser test, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said established procedures had been followed and rejected allegations of preferential treatment. 

He said the protocol required the Police to conduct a breathalyser test when making an arrest, or, if the suspect had been hospitalised, to obtain a medical assessment from the hospital.

“The procedure is that if the Police is making an arrest, they will have to do the breathalyser test, or if he is admitted to the hospital, then the hospital must ascertain whether he is drunk or not,” Wijepala said. 

He noted that Ranwala had been taken directly to the hospital rather than to a Police station, and that a medical report had therefore been requested. “Once the report is presented, we will determine the next steps,” he said.

Wijepala insisted that Ranwala had been treated in the same manner as any other citizen and that no double standards had been applied. “Just like any other ordinary person, all steps have been taken properly. We are not playing hide-and-seek like previous governments. He has been treated as an ordinary citizen. No double standards. The law is equal to everyone,” the Minister said.

He added that the arrest and court process demonstrated that the incident had not been handled as an exception. “He was arrested, produced before the courts, and bail was granted,” Wijepala said, while also cautioning against politicising road accidents. 

“This is not an exceptional incident where he has acted in a manner unbecoming of a politician. Politicians are human beings too, and accidents happen on the road. Sometimes it is unavoidable, and the law treats everyone equally.”

ASP Wootler said investigations into the accident itself were ongoing, including assessments of vehicle movements and other contributing factors. Further developments are expected once the medical report is received and the internal inquiry into the Police lapse is concluded.