• Former Kegalle SSP was arrested in Colombo while the constables were arrested at Kundasale last evening
• SSP Kirthiratne has acknowledged that he ordered the police officers to use minimum force and shoot below the knee

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Former Kegalle SSP K. B. Keerthirathna and three Police Constables have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Rambukkana shooting in which a protester was killed on April 19.   

Senior Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said based on the court order, the IGP has instructed the DIG in charge of the CID to immediately arrest the police personnel involved in the Rambukkana shooting.   
The Kegalle Magistrate on Wednesday ordered the IGP to arrest and produce the police personnel involved in the incident including those who gave orders to open fire on protesters during the Rambukkana protest. Accordingly, the former SSP was arrested in Colombo while the constables were taken into custody at Kundasale in Kandy last evening, SDIG Rohana said.   

He said further legal action will be taken against the officers based on court decisions.  Forty-year-old Chaminda Lakshan was shot dead by the police who opened fire on unarmed people who were protesting against the shortage of fuel in Rambukkana. Several protesters also sustained gunshot injuries due to the shooting.  Following the incident and based on the investigations, the SSP, Rambukkana SP and the OIC of the Rambukkana Police, were transferred to the Police Field Force Headquarters. At the same time, the investigations that were carried out by the SSP in charge of the Seethawakapura Division was taken over by the CID.   Earlier, SSP Kirthiratne has acknowledged that he ordered the police officers to use minimum force and shoot below the knee to quell the unrest.