Negombo Police blamed on murder
Sri Lanka police
A person in two cases - torture and bribery - agaist police was murdered on Saturday in Negombo.
Anton Sugath Nishantha Fernando was a complainant in a torture case before the Supreme Court against several police officers attached to the Negombo Police Station and a bribery case in high court.
He was shot dead at Dalupotha junction, Negombo while driving his van accompanied by his 11 year old son.
Nishantha Fernando had repeatedly complained to police and all relevant authorities about the constant death threats but to no avail, says his wife S.S.Padmi Pieris.
"Negombo police is responsible for my husband's murder", she said.
Independent inquiry urged
In an interview to Sandeshaya she said the she spoke to Inspector General of Police and requested for an independent inquiry and named a number of police officers whom she suspects.
The investigation into the case has now been transferred to the Palyagoda Police.
Headquarters inspector of the Negambo Police said Somasiri Liyanage dismissed allegations of police involvement in the murder.
When questioned why Nishantha Fernando was not given police protection Inspector liyanage said the diseased requested protection only on the day of the crime.
“He never requested protection prior to this “said Inspector Liyanage
Threats
On the 23rd of June 2008 four men, believed to be hired by the police, arrived at his house and told him to withdraw the fundamental rights complaint currently pending before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, stating that if within 24 hours he did not do so , he and his family would be assassinated, says The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
AHRC states that the initial complaint of Nishantha Fernando was against police inspector Mahagamage Dharmadasa for soliciting a bribe of 5,000 rupees (about 46 USD).
The Bribery Commission inquired into the matter and filed a prosecution before the High Court of Colombo,
"Following the arrest of policemen, about 12 police officers from Negombo attacked the whole family (wife and two children) and seriously injured them.
Inspectior Liyange said that there was never an attack on the family by the Police.
A case against twelve police officers of the Negombo Police regarding this assault is before the Supreme Court for its final hearing", states AHRC.
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