Sagala debunks IGP’s claim police failed in 

Gintota

By Saman Indrajith-December 5, 2017, 10:34 pm 

Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka told Parliament yesterday that he would not agree with IGP Pujith Jayasundara’s statement that the Police had failed in their duty during the recent communal clashes at Gintota.

Responding to a series of questions raised by Chief Opposition Whip JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in parliament several days back, the minister said the policemen sent to the area had done their utmost to prevent spreading of clashes and to stabilize the crisis.

MP Dissanayake said the IGP had said that the Police and the religious organisations had failed to prevent the Gintota clashes. "I would like to know if he says that the police failed to control the incident, who should take the responsibility for that? The responsibility definitely goes to somebody. If no one takes the responsibility, then an investigation should be carried out to find out the responsible persons."

"I do not agree with the IGP’s statement. I also visited the area after the incident. The police, the STF and Army together made efforts to control the clashes. If not for their efforts, the damage could have been far worse."

The security forces not only brought the tense situation in Gintota under control swiftly but also prevented the clashes from spreading to other areas. Therefore, their efforts should be commended, the minister said.

Ratnayake said a committee would be established covering all the affected Grama Niladhari Divisions to prevent the recurrence of similar situations in the future. It would comprise religious leaders and intellectuals in the area, he said. 

The minister refuted allegations that the police and the STF deployed in the area had been withdrawn the following day. "We did not take such a decision. The number of the police and STF personnel was reduced, but there was no withdrawal."

JVP leader Dissanayake said the reducing of the number of police and STF personnel was a wrong move.