The Inspector General of Police states rather sheepishly that the large scale transfer of police officers now taking place are routine transfers. We have heard this explanation before on the eve of previous elections as well. How come that the IGP awoke from his Rip Van Winkle like slumber after the Dissolution of Parliament to carry out transfers which naturally have created so much of suspicion. No Sir we just cannot accept its explanation. Public officials of high standing should be able to tell their political masters that there are certain things they cannot do with a conscience. That is the least the public who pay their salaries expect from them. And please don’t make matters worse by trying to dupe the public with lame explanations. The people of this country are far more intelligent than some of the public officers who are not ashamed to do things like this.

Salary increases at this time are routine, other reliefs are routine and so are transfers. Everything is routine. If recalcitrant officials are called upon to explain their conduct after the 5th December be assured that too will be routine!

D. B. Abeykoon
Kandy