Army Chief Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake yesterday (9) said that the ex-army personnel contesting the forthcoming Provincial Council polls for Southern and Western Provinces shouldn’t wear uniform of any type under any circumstances. Anyone abusing the uniform should be prepared to face the consequences, Lt. Gen. Ratnayake said.Lt. Gen. Ratnayake insisted that the Military Police would take necessary action to prevent ex-personnel from using the uniform for political purposes. The army veteran was responding to a query by ‘The Island’ in the wake of the police arresting retired Maj. Ajith Prasanna for roughing up a police officer last Friday in Galle.
The Police took the former soldier into custody yesterday afternoon. The suspect would be produced in court after having recorded his statement, Police headquarters said.Army Commander said that he had immediately directed the Military Police to inquire into the incident after seeing the front-page images in ‘The Island’ on Saturday. Local polls monitoring outfit, CaFFE (Campaign for Free and Fair Election) provided several images of Maj. Prasanna manhandling a police constable in Galle town last Friday after handing over nominations to contest from Galle district on the UPFA ticket.
CaFFE’s executive director, Keerthi Tennakoon told ‘The Island’ that CaFFE had written to IGP N.K. Illangakoon and Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya as regards the incident in Galle. CaFFE had also brought to their notice of former Western Provincial Councillor Nimal Lanza and his supporters causing mayhem on the Katunayake-Colombo expressway also on the final day to hand over nominations, Tennakoon said.
Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told ‘The Island’ that the former officer turned politician had obstructed a police officer on duty, thereby committing a punishable offence. After having manhandled a police officer in public, the candidate had even ridiculed the Police by claiming that the law enforcement personnel had no backbone, the police spokesman said.
SSP Rohana said that the former soldier would be arrested and dealt with according to the law. (Courtesy: - The Island)
