No interference in probe of Police Constable’s tragic death in Colombo

There will be no interference or involvement of top police officers in the investigations into the death of a police constable who was run over by an SUV at Independence Square roundabout in Colombo, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said.

The 25-year-old police constable, Manoj Priyankara attached to the Cinnamon Garden Police Station Traffic Division succumbed to injuries last morning while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Police arrested the 28-year-old man who drove the jeep over the fatal accident.

It was reported that the suspect, who was speeding at the time, had failed to control the speed of the vehicle and run over the police officer who was on duty.

Police said the driver is a technical engineer of a private company and a resident of Narahenpita area.

He is reportedly the son of a volunteer obstetrician and a gynaecologist at the Police Hospital for many years, who was later conferred the rank of Deputy Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Senior DIG Tennakoon said that his mother is also a doctor.

Addressing concerns about the suspect's potential involvement with higher-ranking police officers, Senior DIG Tennakoon dismissed such claims, stating that the suspect's father had indeed served at the Police Hospital many years ago but is now a senior citizen at the age of 72. He emphasised that there would be no interference in the ongoing investigations.

The deceased constable is a resident of Walasmulla.

Meanwhile, the constable was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)