JVP demands answers to Gintota clash

• Demands to know who recalled police teams allowing violence to escalate
• Claims police turned away those attempting to lodge complaints at police stations

By Skandha Gunasekara

The JVP in Parliament yesterday demanded to know who was responsible for recalling the police teams in Gintota, Galle last week, which allowed the violence to escalate, and what steps the Government would take to prevent the recurrence of such a clash.

The Chief Opposition Whip, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, raising a question under Standing Order 23/2, inquired as to what the delay was in carrying out a valuation survey to ascertain estimates of the property damaged and questioned the laidback attitude of the police in taking statements.  

“The people in the area have left their broken homes and appliances as they are worried that if they move or clear the broken object it would not be included in the evaluation. Still no officials have come to the area to estimate the property damage. When the people in the area go to the police to give a statement they are told to return home and that police officers will come to their homes to record statements. What is the meaning of this?” Chief Government whip Gayantha Karunathillaka then asserted that he would immediately inform the Galle DIG of the issue while the Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella criticised the police for failing in their duties.

“The police cannot do that. They cannot turn away those coming to give statements or make an entry. They must record the entry at the police station when people come there, they cannot send people away like that. We will tell the Galle DIG to rectify this urgently,” Minister Kiriella said, adding that measures would be taken to pay compensation for property damaged as a result of the clash. Minister Kiriella said that in contrast to the former regime, the incumbent Government was committed to protecting the rights of all citizens in the country without prejudice. Thereafter MP Dissanayake pointed out that due to the violence which took place last week, thus far five individuals had been hospitalised and there was extensive property damage including to 66 homes, 26 shops, 10 vehicles, four motorcycles and two mosques.

“Police and STF squads were deployed in the area on 16 November but on 17 November they were suddenly removed which allowed more violent clashes to erupt,” the Chief Opposition Whip said, demanding to know who was responsible for recalling the police and STF teams. 

He then charged that the IGP had admitted that the police had failed in their duties in Gintota and that the people in the region had lost faith in the abilities of the police force. 

“The subject minister is abroad. What does the Government expect to do to resolve this issue? Just admitting that the police failed is not enough. What steps will the Government take to ensure there is no recurrence of such incidents?”

The Chief Government Whip said that Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayaka would respond to the queries on a future date as he was not in the country.