Chandi Malli’s son now in action

A group of persons led by the government controlled Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman M. K. Amila had allegedly threatened forest officers at gun point, and forcibly released four persons arrested in connection with a crime. In addition to this, the chairman and his supporters had taken away a tractor, a chain saw and a double cab truck that had been taken into custody by the officers.

The chairman is the son of Southern Provincial Council member M.K. Ranjith alias Chandi Malli who was shot dead in 2003.

The forest officers said that, following information received at the Udawalawe STF office, they had carried out a raid with assistance of the STF inside the Embilipitiya Panamure Hulanda reservation and apprehended the persons while they were felling a one - hundred - year - old Mee tree. The raid had been carried out at about 4.00 p.m.

They said that when the suspects were brought to the range office for interrogation, the STF personnel who had assisted in the raid had been ordered by someone at the highest level not to continue with the inquiry. After that, the chairman had arrived on the scene and threatened the forest officers at gunpoint and set the suspects free and also removed the confiscated goods that were in the custody of the range officers.

When the range officers complained to the Embilipitiya Police that death threats had been made to them at gunpoint by the chairman, the police had refused to record their complaint.

This matter had been seriously considered by the Resources Conservation Professional body; and its secretary Lalith Gamage said that they had resolved to take action against those who had interfered with the forest officers in their discharge of duties irrespective of their positions or affiliations.

At a time when the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphatically stated that legal action should be taken against those who destroy the environment, the chairman of the Embilipitiya PS, M K Amila's taking the law into his own hands is highly deplorable. Their trade unions are planning to take joint action in this regard,

The Embilipitiya Police denied having received any complaint regarding the incident.

When the suspects were brought to the range office for interrogation, the STF personnel who had assisted in the raid had been ordered by someone at the highest level not to continue with the inquiry After that, the chairman had arrived on the scene and threatened the forest officers at gunpoint