No punitive action will be taken against police officers on confession video: Alles

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that no punitive action will be taken against senior police officers, including Western Province (South) Deputy Inspector General of Police Gayantha Marapana, for their interrogation of a tattoo studio owner in the presence of the media.  

The video shows DIG Marapana and other senior officers questioning the tattoo studio owner in Athurugiriya, where a shooting occurred. 

When asked at a media briefing whether any action will be taken against the officers, he said that he strongly warned them not to make the same mistake again and that no disciplinary or legal action will be taken against them. The Minister also said that he did not instruct the IGP to take any action against the officers.  

Minister Alles said that DIG Marapana expressed regret and assured him that such incidents will not recur.  

He said that the senior officers who were leading the investigation into the Athurugiriya shooting successfully arrested several suspects, and the media should have understood the situation.   “The DIG and the other officers carried out the investigations. They have arrested all the suspects, except two,” he said.