The police constable involved in the alleged assault incident linked to National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Shantha Padmakumara Subasingha has been arrested by the Embilipitiya Divisional Crimes Unit, police said.
According to police, the constable has been charged with several offences, including criminal intimidation. He is scheduled to be produced before court this afternoon (22).
Police earlier stated that a blood sample obtained from the police officer involved in the incident will be forwarded to the Government Analyst’s Department for examination.
A detailed statement was issued by the Police Media Division regarding the incident, which reportedly took place on December 20. According to the statement, at around 8.40 p.m., a police constable attached to the Sooriyakanda Police Station, who was returning home after completing his duties, lodged a complaint through the 119 emergency hotline to the Kolonna Police Station. The complaint alleged that the constable was assaulted near the Kalugala Temple by a group that included an NPP Member of Parliament and that his motorcycle was forcibly taken.
Police further stated that at around 10.10 p.m. on the same night, Ratnapura District MP Shantha Padmakumara Subasingha also filed a complaint at the Kolonna Police Station. In his complaint, the MP alleged that while travelling in a cab from Kalugala toward Halwinna, a police constable from the Sooriyakanda Police Station had blocked the road by placing his motorcycle across it, stopped the vehicle, and attempted to assault him.
According to police, the constable’s motorcycle was later found on the road near the Kalugala Temple and was taken into custody by the Kolonna Police. The injured officer was initially admitted to the Kolonna Hospital and was later transferred to the Embilipitiya Hospital for further treatment.
The police statement also noted that hospital clinical records indicated the presence of an alcohol smell on the officer’s breath. While urine samples reportedly showed no presence of narcotic substances, arrangements have been made to obtain blood samples and send them to the Government Analyst’s Department to determine whether alcohol had been consumed.
Police said that further investigations into the alleged incident are being carried out by the Embilipitiya Divisional Crimes Investigation Bureau under the direct supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Embilipitiya Division.
