According to a daily newspaper of March 22, two Policemen had caned a 16-year-old boy called Madushanka with a twig, accusing him of having stolen a cassette from his neighbour’s three-wheeler.

Even if the boy had been guilty of the offence as alleged, the Policemen would have had no right to cane him. The offence is graver where the fact is concerned that the canning was done in the presence of the parents, sisters and brothers and neighbours.

What an offence to cane a child for! Isn’t this an era when even school teachers are discouraged from caning their pupils?

Worse, that caning was done without a formal inquiry and despite Madushanka vehemently denying his involvement in the alleged offence.

The Police had ordered his parents to compensate the trishaw driver!

This kind of child abuse by the Police is now a common occurrence and Mr. IGP, can you please let the public know what action you have taken in the interests of these children?

Amor Patriae