Mowed down IP succumbs in ICU | Daily News

Mowed down IP succumbs in ICU

SP’s son drove Defender says DIG
(Motor Traffic and Road Safety) DIG Ajith Rohana with a portrait of the victim Inspector at yesterday’s press conference. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage
(Motor Traffic and Road Safety) DIG Ajith Rohana with a portrait of the victim Inspector at yesterday’s press conference. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

CCTV footage and eye witnesses have revealed that it was the main suspect Navindu Ratnayake, who had been driving the defender jeep that killed a Police Inspector.

Borella Traffic OIC, IP Ananda Sagara Sarathchandra succumbed to injuries after a prolonged battle for life yesterday, after being knocked down in Bambalapitiya on February 24, Motor Traffic and Road Safety DIG Ajith Rohana said.

The DIG said five CCTV camera recordings obtained from night clubs where Ratnayake had been with his friends and along the road clearly show that this suspect had been at the wheel throughout the journey.

They had fled in the jeep after the incident leaving the victim IP behind.

 The main suspect is a son of a Police Superintendent.

“Police investigations have revealed that this main suspect had been driving the vehicle when this accident happened and we have sufficient evidence to prove that,”the DIG said.

The relevant CCTV recordings will be released to the media after an identification parade to be held today. He also revealed that this suspect had driven the vehicle at the four-way junction at Bambalapitiya disregarding the red light. Police found the vehicle when it had been parked at No. 727, Pagoda Garden, Pelawatte, Battaramulla on the same day.

IP Sarathchandra who was receiving treatment at the National Hospital ICU died on Saturday (9) night after two weeks.

The Police arrested seven suspects including a woman relating to this accident and the main suspect was remanded for 14 days till today. He was accused for attempted murder, negligence, and not taking action to prevent a traffic accident.The other suspects were released on bail. They were accused for concealing evidence and sheltering a suspect.

DIG Rohana said the police have found some issues relating to the legal validity of the registration of the defender jeep, involved in this accident.This will be verified from the Motor Traffic Department and the previous owners of the vehicle. “If any illegal assembling had been found, we will take action against it as well”, he said.

DIG Rohana said that they had observed several social media posts carrying misinformation relating to this accident and the driver of the vehicle were being shared and those who are sharing these posts will also be noticed to appear before the courts in the future to provide evidence on what they had shared.

“We have observed such posts and obtained the addresses of 15 such individuals. They will be noticed in due course and then they can present any different evidence if they have in courts,” he stressed.

The DIG said it is essential to eliminate this defender and drunk-driving culture. “We will be conducting constant operations to detect suspects of drunk-driving. Continuous operations to net drunk drivers will be carried out from midnight today, especially in close proximity to night clubs in and around Colombo,” he said.

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IP’s funeral today

The funeral of IP Ananda Sagara Sarathchandra who succumbed to injuries will take place today at the Borella General Cemetery with full police honours. The IGP and senior police officers will participate. The Magisterial inquiry into the death was conducted by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday. Consultant JMO, Dr. Channa Perera conducted the autopsy.


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