Move to quickly clear charge sheets against cops was ‘an administrative decision’

• Public Security Secy cites existing admin rules specifying 1-year probe

BY Dinitha Rathnayake

The system suggested by Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera, related to cases against police officers where the charge sheets against them should be completed within six months, is an administrative decision, according to Ministry of Public Security Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis.

Speaking to The Morning, he said that these charge sheets should be investigated within a year’s time according to the present administrative rules.

“If an administrator or a police officer has a charge sheet, it should be investigated within one year. The Minister only said that these cases should be resolved within a short period of time, like six months, without affecting the promotions or other privileges of Police officers,” he said.

Weerasekera had said that police officers are being charged with human rights violations, and that steps will, therefore, be taken to provide relief to such individuals.

“There are officers who have long-standing charges of violating human rights against them. As a result of these charges, 35 police officers’ promotions to the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) rank have been halted. To resolve the issue, a special programme is being prepared in collaboration with the Ministry Secretary and the Inspector General of Police (IGP),” Weerasekera added.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Alwis also said that actions are being taken against the police officers in relation to recent incidents in Eravur and Kiriella where police officers assaulted civilians.

“There are around 85,000 police officers in the police service, whereas only two were charged with assault recently. This can happen at any institution, but we make sure that proper investigations are done accordingly,” he said.