By Gerald De Saram –
The answer to the above headlined question is that the bulk of the general public don’t really know and have no idea whom to turn to. They also fear reprisals from their so called protectors and are unwilling to push back against police brutality and corruption.
The appalling story below happened to my son and his girlfriend on the evening of the 28th of December. This is therefore a first hand account and does not rely upon hearsay by a third party. In this narrative the frightening abuse of power displayed by our “protectors of the law” was carried out by officers from the Kollupitiya Police station who were manning the security check point at the Kollupitiya junction, just outside Methodist College at around 8.45 pm on the 28th of December.
My son and his friend had decided to call up a PickMe Tuk Tuk to take them to the Chillies restaurant at One Galle Face. The driver arrived and they left my house at around 8.30 pm. On their way their ride was stopped, apparently for a random search of the vehicle, by the Police manning the Kollupitiya check point. It was by then around 8.45 pm.
The officers there initially asked the driver to produce his license and registration papers but on seeing my son and his friend in the passenger seat switched their attention to them and completely forgot about the Tuk and its driver.
My son and his friend were asked to disembark the Tuk Tuk and given a thorough body search by means of patting down and the thrusting of hands then their pockets. This was done not with any sort of curtesy but very roughly and crudely. I have to say however that the police didn’t body search my son’s young girlfriend.
Thereafter the police turned their attention to my son’s carry pouch in which he stores his phone, purse and other personal belongings. These were all taken out and tossed onto the pavement. Having done this with the contents of my son’s pouch the officers did the same with his wallet, littering the pavement with the contents of his purse, including the cash he was carrying. They thereafter did the same with his friend’s hand bag and purse. It was clear by now that the motive of the police was to harass and bully a young person, who had repeatedly asked the officers there why they were doing what they were doing, in front of his girlfriend and in plain view of the passing public at that busy intersection.
Anyway, at this point the police officer who was leading the witch-hunt found a pair of nail scissors in my son’s pouch which my son explained was there for him to cut his finger nails with before taking part in basketball practices and games, which is a passion for him. Not being happy with this explanation and being determined to pin something, anything, on his victim the brain dead cretin of a cop, whose salary is paid for with the ever increasing taxes that are being bled out of law abiding people, was insistent that the scissors were used for some drug related activity. Beware all you hairdressers, manicurists, PAs etc because the police now have proof, because you all carry or use scissors, that you are all into drugs!!
Having failed to find something to pin on my son, this pig of a cop took him behind their security hut along with about 4 of his colleagues and ordered him to remove his pants, which invitation my son correctly declined. He then grabbed my son by his belt and manhandled him while ordering him again to strip. The poor boy having never encountered this type of intensely threatening behaviour before, least of all from a police officer, was petrified and was bullied and traumatised into submission. He therefore complied by removing his trousers. But the pig was still not satisfied and asked the boy to remove his underwear as well. The now petrified kid did that as well and, as I imagine his fear and plight, both as his father and as another human being, my heart breaks for him. He has come through unimaginable difficulties and handicaps after his mother died of cancer when he was just 12 years old. That he has pulled through as he has is a testament to his courage and perseverance, qualities that were sadly lacking in his tormentors that evening.
What kind of sick, warped minds do we entrust our law and order to? What reason did this deranged moron have to single out a young innocent boy in this manner on the pavement of the Galle Road, at a very busy intersection in the Capital City. What kind of leadership is there in our police force, that allows and probably encourages this kind of deranged behaviour. We will probably never know but one thing is certain, if this kind of behaviour is allowed to continue unchecked, one day the child victim may be someone close to us or someone we love, and the outcome far worse than what my son suffered. I’m told that this kind of thing is quite common now where young people are regularly singled out for police bullying and where our laws are broken with impunity by the very people that tax payers pay to uphold it. It is a shameful reality in our society today.
In closing I ask just two things. Firstly please ensure your children, particularly those who are now young adults, are aware of the dangers they face when they go out with their friends, and secondly that you don’t ignore injustice but take a stand against it. Remember, turning your face away from it is actually tantamount to tacit approval of this cancer and one day your lot may be the one drawn.
Captain Morgan / January 4, 2024
It is very clear that the guy leading the police pack was and is “An Officer and a Blackguard.” There are far too many of that type in the police force now.
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Jaffna Man / January 4, 2024
The Acting IGP and all who appointed him too
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SJ / January 4, 2024
“all who appointed him too”
How many people appointed him?
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Douglas / January 5, 2024
SJ: “How many people appointed him” you asked.
Here are the “PEOPLE”: > The President on the “Recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and approved by the Constitutional Council headed by the Speaker of the House. The Constitutional Council that approved the appointment: The Speaker, The Prime Minister, The Leader of the Opposition, and three others from outside. One member voted against it.
What do you think of these “People”? Are they HUMAN BEINGS or any other type of ZOMBIES in “Human Form”? You evaluate.
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leelagemalli / January 6, 2024
Dear Douglas,
where are you?
You talk about the dawn of real change by the end of the year. Did you watch the video below?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRV22nIbxb8
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A man called “Bodhisattva” who worked as a laborer for a family in Egypt has just arrived at the BIA (his followers perform floor-licking tricks in the style of the SATAKA B***putha). This is the real behaviour of our people… isn’t it?
So how can you rely on them? You keep arguing that people have changed their attitudes. How ?
The truth is that people in the south and other rural areas with more than 70% of voters will never fall against MARA and his supporters. This is a very bad sign for SJB and NPP.
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Douglas / January 6, 2024
My Dear LM: Please hang on. No doubt, there is a “Minority” who still “Worship” these idiots including “MARA/RANIL” who are ruining this country.
You are in a mighty hurry to see things happen. NO. It does not work that way. This group and rouges (Mara/Ranil) have and continue to rule and ruin this country. My friend – This time for sure we will CHASE all of them away and fulfill your dream of bringing them to Justice and placing them wherever they are fit to be.
Be patient, my friend!
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leelagemalli / January 7, 2024
Thanks Douglas, I was bit worried of being unable to read your regular posts. Good that you are back :) Thanks also for the comments. I am very pessimistic about lanken future. I spoke to one of my friends in UK. He is also in the same view as I am.
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SJ / January 4, 2024
‘There are far too many of that type in the police force now.”
Seems true. But is it only now?
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leelagemalli / January 6, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-ET8nWaMs
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may leave all the rice curry for the real cows and let grass be the main food of these people.
Not in this life will I be able to experience “real change in this hell” so long stupid people are the majority.
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Douglas / January 6, 2024
My friend LM: Read the comments attached to this video. Then you will change your opinion of the people. How many “Idiots” (both men & women and a “Yellow Pet) are in attendance?
Please don’t forget this video clip is from the “DERANA” TV Channel of Dilith Jayaweera – the same channel brought a “COBRA” from the Kelani River supposed to have arrived from “NAGA LOKA” to “CROWN” Gota in 2019. Remember the crowd that thronged to Kelani Temple and the priests distributed “Pohottuwa” to worship the Cobra. This same Dilith Jayaweera has declared that he would contest to be the President. My foot! All these “BASTARDS” will learn the bitterest lesson this time for sure. Things are CHANGING and we are making every effort to maintain the trends.
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leelagemalli / January 4, 2024
The line between law breakers and law makers has been blurred in the Sri Lankan context because of the 14 years of Mlechcha Rajapakshe’s rule.
Consequences were to rapid increase of high crimes including murders, rape and money laundering.
This is the result of ignorance in a country that has been at civil war for up to 30 years. As soon as the war ended in May 2009, social erosion should have been restored. Unfortunately, Rajapakse politics kept reckless self-indulgence, racism, Sinhalese supremacy, extremism and Rajapakseism all at the top. They should have realized that even if they could have done something in ending the country’s war, their expertise in economics, policy planning and money management had been a total failure.
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They don’t care why they break the law. At present, a hotel owned by a Muslim hotelier in Colombo has been forcibly demolished by the police.
No logic is clear to anyone yet. Namal Baby is said to have joined the inauguration ceremony of the hoteliers some time ago. It is said that many other famous persons have participated in it. All these people were close to Rajapaksa and his minions.
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Kanapathy Varunan / January 6, 2024
What about the the Hotels and Restaurants on the beach from opposite Ramakrisna Road, Wellawatte up to Dehiwala? Even the Children’s’ Solar park has been demolished to Accommodate restaurants. Who is responsible?
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leelagemalli / January 6, 2024
KV,
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Mara’s Salum Door (which was open to anyone, even violent criminals and drug addicts) irrevocably subjected the people to their brutal politics.
Perhaps these levels are similar to those seen before for powerful men in such societies in medieval Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-ET8nWaMs
New trend is new kind of social fuhrers emerging that mislead the most gullible people in this society.
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My question is whether even tiny fraction of intelligent people grasped the level of brainwashing of Mahinda thought but did not do the job of informing the people and warning the people? any population there are at least a tinier fraction that would realize things normal. Unfortunatley, that tiny fraction has gone die down in srilanka over the years. why ?
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Media fraudsters like Dilit Jayaweera (GALLE) who should long have been hanged, became the right hand of Gota s govt. In any future govt, be it form AKD or SJB, they should punish these men without delay going by sharia style law enforcement.
This is a political gimmick, so the the vote percentage is to anchored to only Rajapakshes. As you travel further south in the island, more and more slave-like people pop up around every corner. Even if the individual’s character is broken, he is asked to kneel next to a vagrant, an old man, or a monk.
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Ajith / January 6, 2024
Dear leelagemalli,
Similar incidents are faced by long period of independent Sri Lanka/Ceylon under both UNP and SLFP rule. In 1958, Tamil people were dragged and burnt in front of Military and Police. Jaffna library was burnt by Sinhalese thugs brought from Colombo by Ministers with the help of police. If the Sinhalese never bothered for long but it now focus on Sinhalese as well. Every time I travel from Kattunayake airport to jaffna the driver has to pay Rs.500 to Rs 1000.
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Lester / January 5, 2024
The police officer went overboard, asking the victim to disrobe. However, keep in mind that during the time of Moda Siri and Moda Ranil, terrorists had a bomb-making factory in the middle of Colombo. Not only that, they were able to transport these bombs all over the city in vehicles and knapsacks.
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leelagemalli / January 6, 2024
Lester the joker,
I think you the kind of low IQ men and women are the majority in our hell deliberately made by RAJAPAKSHE-BASTADISATION.
With all is now clear, that EASTER SUNDAY DISASTER was permitted with the direct complicit of RAJAPAKSHEs in order to grab power and get them exonerated from all the cases for the alleged crimes they deliberately committed.
Nevertheless you the kind of idiots to continue with your damn theories is beyond shame.
please watch the video below. That will bring you back to your culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-ET8nWaMs
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Lester / January 9, 2024
Leela,
Do you remember when your hero CBK let Tiger terrorists attack Maligawa? With more than 300 kg of explosives, the goal was to destroy the entire Temple. Even with this shameless attack, CBK was willing to negotiate “devolution” with the same terrorists. Norway and Moda Ranil were negotiating the final details when MaRa won the 2005 election. Do you understand, MaRa came to power ONLY because CBK was incapable? This fake family, father/mother/daughter, has caused the biggest damage to the island. Look at Sirima and her privitisation. JVP idiots got excited. SWRD’s language policy is remembered by every separatist on the island; it is the real “beginning”, before 1983. Now CBK, she was losing so many battles, the “higanda” army of India was ready to “assist” if LTTE captured Jaffna.
Mr.Leela, MaRa family will never allow anyone to attack the country. Kindly enjoy your freedom & don’t chase NPP communists in the next election.
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Lester / January 9, 2024
*Nationalisation, not privitisation.
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Lester / January 9, 2024
Leela,
There is no evidence to indicate MaRa or GoTa were involved in the Easter attacks. If you have evidence, provide it here. Refer to the Wikipedia page as most of the details are given. TID was following Zahran and nearly prevented the attacks: “It was later claimed that the Police Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) has been investigating the activities of the chief suspect Zahran…” Investigation was halted. There were numerous security failures. First of all, in Sri Lanka, there was no task force to investigate people who joined ISIL. In UK and EU, those who join ISIL/ISIS lose their citizenship. This automatically puts them on the police radar. Secondly, Saudi money was funding Islamic extremism in the East. This money flow should have been cut off. Thirdly, India warned about a possible attack, these warnings were not taken seriously. Fourthly, security was lax at major public venues like Shangri-La that are frequented by foreigners. In India, you have to go through metal detectors to enter these places.
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leelagemalli / January 6, 2024
Those who deal and seal with drug peddaling are all mixed up today SO THAT drug traffickers are infiltrated in every corner of the city. In such an environment, this would have been occured also in the US. I am not defending anyone, all that are entwined with drugs should be punished on the spot
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 5, 2024
The episode described is nothing new. It happens all the time to poor people who use three-wheelers or scooters etc. Police brutality has always been around, and the poor voiceless people take it as karumey and live another day. It does not happen to posh people in luxury four-wheel SUVs and vehicles of affluence . Now, these incidents will become more pronounced and common, as the police and armed forces are given lots of privileges and perks to protect the criminals in the ruling class, against the wrath of the poor. From the top down, the whole system is corrupt, with the biggest crooks in parliament and their crony corporate networks fleecing the poor. The police have a new gangster who excels in torture and extra-judicial thuggery, as seen during the Aragalaya and elsewhere. The people must now rise as one, and dismantle this utterly dysfunctional parasitic system for good. Elections have never delivered justice for the people. The citizens are entitled to remove any ruling cabal if they oppress the people.
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Leonard Jayawardena / January 5, 2024
LP: “The people must now rise as one, and dismantle this utterly dysfunctional parasitic system for good. Elections have never delivered justice for the people. The citizens are entitled to remove any ruling cabal if they oppress the people.”
Elections are the instrument by which civilised people change governments democratically. If people choose their rulers unwisely and suffer for it, then it is their fault.
It think there should be a law to round up those who advocate extra-constitutional and even violent change of regime, as this guy has done numerous times in CT comments, and to be taken to a rehabilitation centre for reeducation. And, if two-bit “academics” like this are still active in “teaching” hapless youths, they should be prevented from doing so to stop imbuing their minds with mad revolutionary poison.
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Kanapathy Varunan / January 6, 2024
It is said that the subjects behave like the king and conduct themselves like the King in breaking laws.
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Ajith / January 7, 2024
LP,
It is good to know that you agree that Elections are instruments by which civilised people change governments democratically. The question is even after the country was brought bankrupt after changing governments what is the law that allows the brutality of the law protectors like the case of the author. What sort of civilisation in this land that protect the Easter bomber master minds, the master mind the murder of Journalists like Lasantha, master mind of the murder of those who surrendered or handed over to the military?
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SarathP / January 6, 2024
Mr. De Saram,
I am appalled at what happened to your son and his friend. Most policemen are sadistic beasts.
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Ruchira / January 7, 2024
A process of vetting to prevent perverted personalities that could exploit their positions in the law enforcement to satisfy their perversions may be necessary to clean up the police force.
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There was an attempt to portray Gotabhaya as “the Terminator”, who could fight injustice and corruption during the run up to the last Presidential Elections.
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Given that Ranil may not be best projected as a Terminator, the job seem to have been outsourced to Minister Alles and the Police Department under him, perhaps with the hope that it would increase the favourability of President Wickremasinghe among the voters.
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There seem to be other such attempts to portray Mr. Wickremasinghe as a character similar to Gotabhaya. The fiasco of an interview the former gave to the German media DW was another.
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sonali / January 7, 2024
Gerald De Saram writes with restraint, presenting what can be nothing but the truth, a shocking truth. After all, the matter concerns his young son and the son’s friend. Such police illegal actions are more the rule than the exception. It’s not everyone who has the courage, the language skills, and knows the avenues where to lodge complaints. Ninety-nine percent of such police outrages against innocent civilians go unreported. Here now is a chance for the authorities to make an example of these police thugs and criminals. Or is that too much to ask?
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