ASP transferred for organising b’day party for Mayor

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) for Kurunegala, Saman Dissanayake has been transferred after organising a birthday celebration for Kurunegala Mayor within Kurunegala Police premises.

The transfer order came hours after an actress and an event organiser were arrested, produced in courts and released on bail for a similar offence of organising a birthday party at a hotel in Colombo.

Police Media Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said in addition to the transfer, a special police team was deployed to probe the celebration which had been held in violation of the quarantine regulations.

Our correspondent in Kurunegala said that the birthday celebration was held while a seven-day pirith sermon organised by the police to bring blessings on those affected by COVID-19 was being held at the Kurunegala Police premises. The ASP had organised a surprise party for the Mayor who was to attend the Pirith ceremony.

Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharan who attended the pirith chanting ceremony was called to the adjoining tent where cutting of the birthday cake took place in front of the police officer. Several people were seen without their face masks on.

However, in Colombo event organiser Chandimal Jayasinghe and actress Piyumi Hansamali were arrested by the Fort Police for organising a birthday party at a five star hotel in violation of quarantine rules.

They were later produced in the Magistrate courts and both were given a personal bail of Rs one million each and a further hearing was fixed for August 27, 2021.

Police also said about 25 others who took part in the party were to be arrested. Twelve of them have been identified so far.

DIG Rohana said that all of them will be arrested.

However, so far no action had been taken against those who took part in the event to mark the Mayor’s birthday.