Down With The Policemen!

I do not want to comment about the Sports Minister’s allegation relating to Sri Lanka Cricket and the Education Department, as the public would be well aware of the happenings in these institutions and some would surely have first hand experience of corruption prevailing in these institutions. But certainly, I would like to bring out to the notice of the reading public, the corruption in the Police Department, as I am personally aware of many instances of corruption in that Department.

Case No. 1

A friend of mine belonging to the minority community who had come on a one month holiday from the UK, went to the area police station with a letter from the chief occupant, his brother, to inform the police of his arrival and his temporary stay with his brother for one month. The police had with great difficulty given him a form to be filled and brought the next day, when the OIC was in office. He went to the police station the next day with the form duly filled up, but was turned away saying that the OIC was not in and that he should come in the afternoon. He went in the afternoon, but was told that the OIC was not in and that he should come the following day.
On the following day when he went, after some delay he was told that the OIC was not in and he should wait for his arrival. My friend had got the message and parted with Rs. 500. His form was accepted and he was told ‘not to worry’ as everything would be taken care of. My friend stayed with his brother for one month and left at the end of his holiday.

Case No. 2

My daughter was picked up by a friend of hers, a lady, to go to the House of Fashion to purchase some items they needed. It was either a holiday or a Sunday and they had entered a one-way street. Two policemen who were there on duty, or just happened to be there, confronted them and told them that they were on a one-way street and that they would have to ‘book’ them. The lady driver had pleaded ignorance, throwing in ‘some smiles and her charm’ and asked that she be excused and allowed to go, as the mistake was unintentional. The police officers had been exceptionally nice, but had asked to be ‘looked after’ for their trouble. The lady parted with Rs. 500. The police officers who were extremely nice had told her that she should turn to the right at the first junction and proceed, for some ‘cussed policeman’ could book her for breaking the law.

I have many more stories of this nature to relate, but do not want to ridicule the intelligence of the readers by stating the obvious. I hope DIG Administration of the Police Department, N.K. Illangakoon would read this letter and also ask the man-on-the-street about the opinion they hold about the Police Department. As for me, I would say: The Policeman is rude, The Policeman is corrupt, The Policeman is nasty. Down with the Policeman!

S.D. Gunapala
Mt. Lavinia