The National Police Commission (NPC) yesterday said that Police Headquarters needed to take tough action against sex maniacs in the department to ensure an already bad situation from getting worse.

A shocked K. C. Logeswaran, Secretary to the Commission yesterday told The Island that a report would be called from Police Headquarters on the alleged sexual assault on a teenage boy by M. G. Chandrasiri, Officer-in-Charge of Hakmana Police. He expressed shock and regret that a cohesive strategy hadn’t been adopted to discourage sex offenders even after the Officer-in-charge of Kalutara (North) Police Jakson was interdicted recently on a rape charge, pending a court inquiry. He is alleged to have raped a 14-year-old girl.

Logeswaran noted that the molestation of the teenager had taken place within the Hakmana police station premises. Nothing could have been worse than this, he said.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera yesterday said that the police wouldn’t shield the suspects. Gunasekera said that some dogs have entered the police. "I don’t agree with the assertion that the service has gone to the dogs," he told The Island, vowing to track down the Hakmana OIC. "He is still at large," he said, adding the Matara Police Division has been directed to apprehend him.

Gunasekera said that the police were also looking for Nuwan Udaya Gunatilleke, alias Kudu Nuwan wanted in connection with the recent rape of a girl, an employee of a karaoke bar, in the Kollupitiya police area. He, too, was at large, the spokesman said.

Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Sumeda Jayasena wasn’t available for comment. The Hakmana incident has come close on the heels of a government pledge to launch a comprehensive action programme to fight child abuse. This pledge was given at a press briefing held at the Information Department with the participation of Minister Jayasena and Jagath Wellawatte, Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA).