17 November 2021 02:55 pm Views - 2039
Refuting claims made by SJB that a youth named Indika Jayaratne of Panamure has been beaten to death by the police, Public Security Minister Sarath Weeraskera said the youth attempted to commit suicide and died while being taken to the hospital.
“This youth was a drug addict and accused of assaulting his daughter. Therefore his daughter had lodged a complaint with the police against him. The police had arrested this man at 10.30pm on Tuesday. He attempted to hang himself within the cell, but a policeman prevented him from doing so. He died while he was being taken to hospital. There is no link between his death, SJB and the police,” the Minister said.
“The SJB MPs are uttering blatant lies,” he added. But, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said the remarks made by the Minister are unacceptable as the authorities are responsible if a person dies while being kept in police custody. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)