Sinhala police brutality in spate! There are over 600 unresolved public complaints against police officials with the now defunct police commission.!!!

police brutality in spate

By Ranga Jayasuriya

Extra judicial killings of two youth by the Angulana police are only the tip of the iceberg. There are over six hundred unresolved public complaints against police officials with the now defunct police commission, a commission member told LAKBIMAnEWS.
But, chances are dim that the victims of these violations would ever receive justice.
The commission is defunct since the term of office of one of the four commissioners had expired in April 2009.
According to the commission sources who spoke under conditions of anonymity, there are 663 unresolved public complaints against police officials, received by the commission during the period of January 1 to July 31 this year. This is on top of 1330 complaints received last year, most of which are still unresolved. However, the Commission has been defunct since the term of one commissioner expired on April 5, this year.
No one has been appointed to fill the position as the Constitutional Council, which appoints commissioners to the independent commissions has not been set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a task he is mandated under Article 41A(5) of the Sri Lankan Constitution.
Administrative powers of the commission have been transferred by Cabinet to the Secretary Ministry of Defence.
According to the NPC statute, appointments, promotions, transfers, disciplinary control and dismissal of police officers other than the Inspector General of Police, is vested in the Commission. The Commission shall exercise its powers of promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal in consultation with the IGP.
The Commission should also establish procedures to entertain and investigate public complaints and complaints of any aggrieved person made against a police officer or the police service, and provide redress in accordance with the provisions of any law enacted by parliament for such purpose.

lakbimanews.lk