The heads of police stations are being appointed today based on recommendations by the ruling party organisers in respective areas instead of consulting the Inspector General of Police for the purpose, the UNP charged in Parliament on yesterday.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said that the police service had been politicised to such an extent that the cut-outs of the President had been erected right in front of some police stations. In the run up to previous elections, he said, some heads of police stations declined to entertain complaints by the opposition.

Mr. Jayasuriya said that the police service is considered a civil service in most countries such as India.

“Our view is that public servants should be impartial. The Defence Secretary set a bad precedent at the last election by involving himself in political activities,” he said. 

He noted that the underworld had raised its ugly head under the patronage of politicians, and as a result grave crimes such as massive burglaries, assaults had increased.

“This trend is indicative of impending danger in future,” he said.
He called upon the Maha Sangha and other religious dignitaries to come forward to arrest this dangerous trend.

“The perpetrators of the assassination of 12 newspaper editors are yet to be brought to book.  Also, action has not been taken against those responsible for the assaults on 30 other journalists. Those who attacked the Sirasa Media Institution and Rupavahini  are still free,” he said.

Also, he charged that persons who attacked the UNP MPs on Independence Day  were responsible for the killing incident in Kollonnawa, and their names had been revealed now.

 The government ministers who were present by the time did not deny any of these allegations. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)