By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

A video circulating on social media since early yesterday, showing  a police officer mercilessly  assaulting a civilian, has received wide spread condemnation on social media while the police have launched animmediate investigation.

Investigations revealed that the officer had assaulted the civilian, who was a lorry driver after an accident in Pannipitiya last morningPolice Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that the incident had taken place when the lorry crashed into the Traffic OIC of the Maharagama Police.

The OIC had been admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
The police constable who had assaulted the driver was present with the OIC during the accident.
The Police spokesman said though the lorry driver appeared to be at

fault due to reckless driving, the police officer had no right to assault the driver in this manner.
"Therefore, we have initiated an investigation into this and we will

take disciplinary action against the police constable," DIG Rohana said.

DIG Rohana added that the Nugegoda Division SSP had initiated a special investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera instructed to suspend services of the constable who had assaulted the driver.