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OIC gets death threats over Wedaarachchi’s son incident 

10 Jun 2022

  • Tells court he was warned his house would be torched
By Hemantha Liyanapathirana   The Weeraketiya Police yesterday (9) reported to the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court that Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Kelum Sangeethge has received death threats warning him not to investigate the obstruction of duties charges filed against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Dilip Wedaarachchi’s son and former Tangalle UC Chairman Ravindu Wedaarachchi, and the latter’s wife Nethmi Silva.  The Weeraketiya Police informed the court that OIC Sangeethge had been warned via text messages that his house would be torched if he continued to investigate the charges against the politically linked couple.  Ravindu Wedaarachchi and his wife Nethmi Harindika Silva were arrested on Monday (6) in connection with obstructing duties of a police officer and alleged attempt of assault regarding an incident near the Badhigama exit of the Southern Expressway on 1 June. They were charged with obstructing the duties of police officers at the Bedigama interchange on the Southern Expressway and committing criminal violence. Both were granted bail on Wednesday (8).  On Sunday (5), MP Wedaarachchi alleged that his son Ravindu Wedaarachchi had been punched in the face by a police officer during the incident in question, and in turn requested the Police to conduct a fair investigation into the complaints lodged by both the officers of the Weeraketiya Police and himself.  Claiming that the incident in question was due to the actions of the Police officers and that the Weeraketiya Police were acting in a “dictatorial” manner with regard to the incident, he urged Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne to fairly investigate both the complaints lodged by the officers of the Weeraketiya Police and himself.  When queried by The Morning regarding the allegations made by MP Wedaarachchi that his son had been punched in the face by a police officer during the incident which took place on 1 June, Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Attorney-at-Law (AAL) Nihal Thalduwa said that an announcement could only be made in that regard once the ongoing investigations are concluded. Video footage was circulating on social media showing Ravindu Wedaarachchi and Silva shouting at two Policemen at the Dedigama Expressway entrance. As per the video footage, a policeman had advised the driver to not enter the expressway as it is not safe to travel along with a loaded refrigerator in the cab, but Ravindu Wedaarachchi, who was in the driver’s seat, and Silva, who was inside the vehicle, started scolding the policeman in obscene language. However, in a subsequent video released by the MP’s son, or his family, a police officer was seen holding the MP’s son by his collar in an aggressive manner. The policeman in question had subsequently lodged a complaint about this incident with the Weeraketiya Police Station.


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