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Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in his capacity as the Constitutional Council’s Chairman, on Thursday asked the newly set up Police Commission to inquire into the alleged misbehaviour of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The call was made at the first meeting the members of the Constitutional Council had with the Police Commission at the Parliament complex.
The DIG in question is alleged to have been heavily drunk at what is being described as a Karaoke club in Kollupitiya. The DIG suddenly felt like exercising his vocal chords so went to pick up the microphone to accompany a pre-recorded backing track, but he kept swaying and eventually fell.

Down but not out, the DIG then struggled to his feet. When those at the club found it difficult to control the man, they had telephoned the Police Emergency. A source said a patrol car arrived at the scene. The atmosphere there looked more like a police station than a club, the source said pointing to the crowds present. When Police Emergency identified the DIG, they withdrew, added the source. The DIG in question is one of two who had been granted extension of service.

Speaker Jayasuriya said that the Commission should conduct a probe and take appropriate action. He also raised the issue of kappan or protection money being collected by different gangs. For fear of reprisals, he said, most people did not complain. He said immediate action should be taken against such gangs so that traders and vendors could carry on business without fear. Another subject of discussion was the rising rate of crime.

The newly appointed Police Commission is headed by Professor Siri Hettige and includes four other members.
Officials said yesterday the Constitutional Council would meet members of the independent commissions every three months to review the progress of their work.

Police assault: ASP shoots himself  in the foot
The assault on Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) students by policemen outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) was reported in almost all television channels and newspapers. The students who were arrested were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Lawyers appearing for the 39 students had photographs to show how the students were brutally attacked. One picture showed a policeman beating up a female student.

An Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) representing police in court said those were “good shots”. There was laughter among those in the Court and it was not clear if the ASP meant it was a good photograph or a good shot by the policeman.
The ASP explained in Court later that these shots taken from different angles were misinterpreting the truth.
He said police were forced to use “necessary power” when these protesters had gone beyond limits and tried to enter the UGC premises. Now the Human Rights Commission is to conduct an inquiry into the police attack. The move came as Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva condemned the Police onslaught saying it was “excessive force”.

On Friday, Students of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) staged protests in Mattakuliya, Dehiwala and Galle (Ruhunu Campus) over the attack.

Karuna opts for Indian model of devolution
Politics does make strange bed fellows. The most recent alliance being forged is between former LTTE Eastern commander turned politician Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman and the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader and veteran Tamil politician V Anandasangaree.

Karuna announced this week he would quit the post of Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and join the TULF as he was in agreement with the stance of that party which believes that the best solution to the Tamil problem lies in the devolving power through the Indian model of devolution.

Mr. Anandasangaree on his part said he was willing to accommodate anyone willing to join his party but the decision had to be made not by him alone but the party collectively. “I am working towards forming an alliance with several parties and I am willing to consider the request from Karuna to join us,” he said.

Field Marshal loses key  lieutenant
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party has lost one of its key officials – General Secretary Ananda Manawadu. He has tendered his resignation.

Field Marshal Fonseka has named Tissa Perera, a retired Police officer, to be the new General Secretary.
Since the party was established, some Parliamentarians, provincial councillors and local council members have quit the party.

No time for UPFA MR group in House
All things are not rosy on the Parliament front with Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists known as the UPFA MR group complaining to President Maithripala Sirisena that they were not being allocated adequate time to speak in the House.

When MEP leader and UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena raised the matter at the recently held All-Party Conference (APC), the President politely told him that he did not want to interfere with the working of Parliament but nonetheless said he would inquire from those concerned.

The time allocation issue is because the slot for UPFA MPs to speak is being taken up by those who are in the common alliance with the UNP. It leaves little time for the ‘MR group.’
Protests over this last week prompted Mr. Gunawardena to walk away with the Mace – the symbol of Parliament.

Was it a blackout blow from the CEB?
Was the countrywide power failure on September 28 a form of warning to the Government?
Insiders say the warning may have been to government leaders who were discussing the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Now the issue has been put on the back burner. The entire country was without power from the national grid from midnight to 4.00 a.m. on September 28.

Disobedient envoy robbed on roadway
Some of Sri Lanka’s diplomats are defying directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and doing things their way. The latest instance is the conduct of a one-time military man, a former chief of sorts. He was advised by the Ministry to take a flight from the Latin American capital to which he is posted to a popular city with an even more popular beach.

Instead, our man decided to take his two soldier bodyguards and travel by road. Mid way through, the vehicle was ambushed by armed bandits and the envoy’s belongings robbed. As for the soldiers, they had nothing to lose. Their salaries were paid in rupees in Sri Lanka.  Foreign Ministry insiders say top brass there had chosen to ignore the episode.