Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral Dr. Sarath Weerasekera (Rtd) has instructed the Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne to launch an immediate investigation into the complaint lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department against State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.
The investigation will be launched into a complaint lodged by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners regarding the incident where State Minister Ratwatte had gone to the Anuradhapura Prison on the 12th of September and intimidating several prisoners by holding a gun to their head.
Meanwhile, in response to a request by the prisoners, Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa visited the prison and assured that an investigation is currently underway on the directive of the President and the Prime Minister. He expressed hope that the State Minister involved in this issue would also cooperate with the investigations. “As a Government that came to power to protect the safety and security of the public, we will not leave room for their security to be compromised in any manner. We will also not condone or approve of such behaviour. The relevant minister has stepped down from his post to allow an independent investigation and once the investigations are completed, we will see what further action needs to be taken,” he added. When asked by the media if this incident would have an impact on the country at the UNHRC sessions, he said that such an incident should never have happened and the Government definitely does not approve of such behaviour.
Minister Rajapaksa also noted that Lohan Ratwatte holding a State Ministerial post will not hamper the investigations which are being handled by the Prisons Department and the Police. Hence, he assured that investigations into this incident would be carried out without any interference or bias.
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