{"id":120758,"date":"2014-03-01T06:11:03","date_gmt":"2014-03-01T00:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=120758"},"modified":"2014-03-07T02:55:57","modified_gmt":"2014-03-06T21:25:57","slug":"no-wonder-sri-lankas-rich-and-powerful-need-cctv-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/no-wonder-sri-lankas-rich-and-powerful-need-cctv-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"No Wonder Sri Lanka’s Rich And Powerful Need CCTV Protection!"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kshama\u00a0 Ranawana<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kshama<\/a>

Kshama Ranawana<\/p><\/div>\n

February began with news of the senseless killing of Mel Gunasekera<\/span><\/a>, a well known financial analyst and journalist.<\/p>\n

She had been stabbed to death allegedly by a would be burglar, who was caught within hours of the heinous crime, by police who identified him through the images caught on a Closed Circuit Television camera installed in a neighbouring home.<\/p>\n

Hurrah then for the availability of CCTV camera\u2019s in Sri Lanka. If only they are used to apprehend the villains of many other crimes committed in that country!<\/p>\n

Reading the report of the murder and the agility with which the murderer was apprehended, got me thinking. If Mel had been killed or kidnapped because of her profession would the suspects have been so easily and speedily captured?<\/p>\n

Apart from the abductions and killings of well-known journalists there are many others who have gone missing or have been killed. The culprits however, still roam free.\u00a0 As well, we\u2019ve lost count of the number of presidential commissions appointed to look into such crimes and grown weary of waiting to hear the findings.<\/p>\n

According to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development website, a hundred and five CCTV camera\u2019s have been installed at main intersections in Colombo city. The camera\u2019s have been very useful in identifying traffic gridlocks and accidents, ensuring safety of VIP movements and monitoring events within the city.<\/p>\n

The CCTV camera which helped identify Mel Gunasekera\u2019s assailant is reported to be installed in the home of the Chairman of the Ports Authority. On recent visits to Sri Lanka, I\u2019d noticed similar camera\u2019s installed in the homes of private citizens and wealthy business people.<\/p>\n

What necessitates CCTV\u2019s surveillance in the homes of civilians?\u00a0 After all, the Sri Lankan government is proud to announce to the world that, having rid the country of the LTTE<\/span><\/a>, the island nation is now a paradise. A CCTV camera installed at the home of the Chairman of the Ports Authority, could have been justified during the era when the country was fighting the JVP<\/span><\/a> and the LTTE. Why is it necessary for private citizens and public servants to have their homes under surveillance today?<\/p>\n

Those who saw the attack on the Fashion Bug<\/span><\/a> outlet at Pepiliyana, close to Nugegoda, would have seen a Buddhist monk throwing a stone at the factory\u2019s CCTV to disable it. Several policemen looked on, while he repeatedly threw a stone like object at it. The outlet was attacked in the anti-Muslim hysteria<\/span><\/a> which has taken hold of the country.<\/p>\n

There have been many other instances where religious minorities have come under attack and the authorities have been slow to take action.<\/p>\n