The policeman subjected to this episode had been on duty at the entrance to the parliament complex and the MP concerned had been coming out of the Parliament building, when he noticed the gate was closed and he could not go.

The policeman on duty had told the MP that this gate cannot be opened without the express permission of parliament, which were the orders given to him.

At this stage, the MP who lost his entire bearings, had threatened the policeman stating that he will remove the pair of trousers of the constable on duty at the gate.

The walkie-talkie had been on and this transmission had been heard by all the officers who used this channel and furthermore it had been tape-recorded at police communication centre at Mirihana, automatically.

A senior police officer who had been in this channel was said to have inquired as to what this indecent talk was about.

What has the Hon. MP got to say? Is he prepared to apologise to the constable concerned whom he threatened – to remove his trousers for doing his job correctly?

In the late 1950s, sub-Inspector Bennet Perera (later of CID fame) was on traffic duty at Kandy for the annual Esala Perahera. When the Diyawadane Nilame’s driver attempted to enter a street which was made "No entry" to vehicles and when Bennet Perera stopped him from, proceeding, the driver still wanted to proceed. The SI very correctly used force and prevented the driver from proceeding. The driver went and complained to the DN that he was assaulted by an SI on duty.

The DN refused to start the procession and wanted an inquiry conducted by the SP.

Carl-Van-Rooyen, SP Kandy, told the DN that the complaint against SI Perera was one thing and starting of the procession is another thing and told the DN that if the procession did not start within the next half an hour all the policemen on duty will be withdrawn.

The procession started on time and also a complaint against SI Bennet Perera was made, subsequently.

IG Sir, that was 50 years ago.

But your goodself can bring this injustice to the highest authority in the land and request him to do justice. And this will definitely be done.

On the other hand, if the MP is a gentleman and a man of principle, he will not want any policeman to provide security for him in the future as he cannot have confidence in them.

Ananda Jayasena,
Borelesgamuwa.