Judge denounces disgraceful conduct of SDIG, hands him five-year jail term
Ratnapura High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratna on Monday passed a five-year jail term on former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Sabaragamuwa province, Lalith Jayasinghe, finding him guilty of influencing the police not to arrest a former State Minister, Premalal Jayasekera, over a murder at a presidential election rally of then-candidate Maithripala Sirisena on January 5, 2015.
Preparations for the stage were underway for the rally where Mr. Sirisena was to address the public when a gunman shot Shantha Dodangoda, alias Dodangoda Sunil, killing him. The judge observed that it was a "serious situation" where a contender for the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP) attempted to influence a junior officer to prevent the arrest of the politician.
“It was a serious situation where a senior officer was influencing to keep out the name of a politician, Premalal Jayasekara, despite having evidence against him for the criminal offence”, the judge said.
The judge noted that if the officer in charge of the Kahawatta Police station had acted under the influence of SDIG Jayasinghe, it would have obstructed investigations into a serious murder case at the initial stages, thereby causing injustice to the aggrieved parties. The influence of the SDIG was so high that the Kahawatta OIC eventually left his job, the judge noted.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Prasanna Bandara, appearing for the prosecution, that the accused SDIG be given the highest sentence, taking into consideration the need to prevent similar actions by senior officers responsible for ensuring law and order.
In addition to the five-year prison sentence, a fine of Rs 20,000 was also imposed. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional four-month sentence.
The judge noted that if the police protected the criminal, there would have been public criticism, and respect for the police would have been lost while having an impact on maintaining law and order. Presdent's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa with attorneys Neranjan Iriyagolla and Harin Saddasena appeared for the accused, SDIG Jayasinghe.
State Minister Premalal Jayasekara, alias ‘Choka Malli', and two others who were convicted and sentenced to death were later acquitted and released by the Court of Appeal on March 31, 2022.The order was made by Court of Appeal Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and R. Gurusinghe.
Appeals were filed by Premalal Jayasekera, ex-Provincial Council Member Nilantha Jayasinghe and ex-Kahawatte Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Vajira Darshan requesting that the death sentences imposed on them by the Ratnapura High Court be made null and void and they be released and acquitted of all the indictments. On July 31, 2020, the trio were sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court. They filed appeals challenging the death sentence, noting that the verdict by the Ratnapura High Court was flawed.
State Minister Premalal Jayasekera and the other two convicted men had filed petitions in the Court of Appeal citing that the manner in which the death sentence was imposed was in violation of the law, and they should be acquitted and released.