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Inspectors urge IGP to reinstate officers discharged by court
By Asif Fuard

Scene of the brutal killing of Police Inspector Douglas Nimal and his wife. They were shot dead by unidentified gunmen

The Sri Lanka Police Inspectors Association has urged Police Chief Chandra Fernando to immediately reinstate the police officers who were interdicted last December over allegations of being involved in a drug scandal.

It has been more than a month since the six police officers were discharged in a case that came up for hearing at the Maligakande Magistrate’s Court. Despite being discharged by court the officers are still awaiting their reinstatement which is being delayed for some unknown reason.

The 7,000-strong Police Inspectors Association President Chief Inspector Dale Gunaratna told The Sunday Times, the Police Chief should take necessary action to reinstate these officers who were allegedly framed by some senior officers to suit their personal agenda.

This conspiracy came to light in the aftermath of last week’s gruesome killing of Police Inspector Douglas Nimal – one of those interdicted over the so called drug scandal -- and his wife who were shot dead in Pore, Athurugiriya by unidentified gunmen.

“This is the first time in the history of the police department that a law enforcement officer had been arrested on a statement given by a suspect in the same drug case. There was no concrete evidence to prove that Inspector Douglas and the other officers were involved in drug trafficking. The police didn’t even have sufficient evidence to file a charge sheet. It is obvious that these officers were maliciously framed by some of the police officers. Later when the interdicted officers were discharged the senior officers in the police department failed to reinstate them,” Chief Inspector Gunaratna said. He also said the Police Inspectors Association would like to know why the officers were not reinstated.

CI Gunaratna said the IGP was well aware of the service provided by Inspector Douglas who had one of the best track records in narcotic detection in Sri Lanka. “Despite his service to the department he was humiliated, interdicted and finally killed in cold blood. When such things happen how can we as inspectors have any confidence in the senior officers or the Department?” he lamented.

Colombo Crimes Division officers arrested Police Inspectors Douglas Nimal and Anura Silva last December when they came to give a statement at the request of the CCD after being implicated by a woman identified as Zulfika.
However it was later revealed the CCD made the arrests as a means of settling old scores with Inspector Douglas whose attempt to arrest a drug kingpin was obstructed by CCD officers.

While in remand IP Douglas wrote to President Mahinda Rajapaksa requesting him to look into the injustice caused to him. Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the CID for an immediate report on the killing of the interdicted Inspector Douglas Nimal and his wife.

The CID said IP Douglas was prepared to expose the names of other police officers involved with drug dealers and was even planning on a news conference to make the names public and clear his name. When The Sunday Times asked IGP Chandra Fernando as to why the officers had not been reinstated he said that was a matter for the senior DIG’s who are directly in charge of them.

“I have sent a circular to the DIG administration and the DIGs who are in charge of the ranges to reinstate the six officers who were interdicted. If there is further inquiry the DIG’s should finalise them without delaying. I can see that there has been a lapse in administration and I will see they are reinstated soon,” he said.

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