According to the Police Law of the Police Ordinance of Sri Lanka, police officers cannot shoot and kill civilians. They are only capable of shooting below the knee. It is the least use of force by the police.
But sadly, the minimum power of this police force has been used in the past to the detriment of lives.
Last year alone, there were 10 such shootings carried out by the police in violation of police law. They are Moneragala Chaminda Kumara, Gonakowila Raja, Ketawala Sampath, Angulana Amit Karunaratne, Angoda Solta, Gampaha Chamiya, Hanwella Indra, Ratmalana Roha, Makandure Madush, Veyangoda Nihal Kumarasiri.
All 10 lives were lost due to the minimal use of police force. According to the police, most of the victims were organized criminals. Or suspects. However, no one has the right to take the life of another. The law is for such people. But what happens is that the police show minimal force after arrest.
We suddenly started talking about the minimum power of the police because of the use of the minimum force by the police last night (11).
Mambulage Dineth Mellen alias Urujuwa, who is said to be an organized criminal in the Hanwella area in Navagamuwa, was shot dead by the Navagamuwa police.
The 27-year-old suspect was arrested by the Navagamuwa Police and taken to the Wanduramulla area last night for an investigation after recording his statements on the 10th and 11th. According to the police, an incident had taken place there and the police had used minimal force to shoot Dineth. He was later taken to the Navagamuwa Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, said police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana.
According to the police, he was wanted by the police in connection with four murders, 20 extortions, arson and threats. If so, he should have been arrested, produced in court and the law enforced. But that does not happen