Kinniya Municipal Council Chairman SHM Nalim was arrested by the Kinniya Police yesterday afternoon for allegedly allowing a ferry to capsize, killing six people and injuring 20 others in the, Kurunnakanni area of Kinniya.
The police had stated that permission had been granted without any search of the ferry. He was arrested accordingly.
However, Minister of Mass Media and Information Dullas Alahapperuma had stated at a media briefing yesterday (25) that no approval had been obtained for a Kinniya bridge ferry and no such permission had been granted.
He further stated that legal action would be taken against those who used to cross the bridge by ferry without any permission and that the foundation stone had been laid on two occasions for the construction of a bridge at the site and that an alternative route had been provided under the present government to travel until the bridge was constructed.
Three persons are currently in police custody in connection with the bridge ferry accident. The owner of the ferry was the two people who sailed the ferry. Following the arrest, the group posted on social media asking why the police did not arrest the ferry and the river?.
It shows that the role of the police has become such a joke in today’s society. At the same time, it is becoming commonplace for conflicting stories about the same incident to emerge from both sides of the government on the same day.