OIC Siriwardena was a courageous officer: Police
Police Headquarters yesterday hailed Borella Police OIC Chief Inspector Prasad Siriwardena as a courageous officer who died in the line of duty when a tree said to have been cut down by ‘some conspirators’ crushed him to death.
The Inspector was deployed on special duty to quell the protests in Hanwella
OIC Siriwardena, seriously injured and in a critical condition, was rushed to the Avissawella Hospital where he underwent two surgical operations but the valiant efforts by the doctors, who attended on him, were unable to save his life.
The Inspector was deployed on special duty to quell the protests over the rubber factory situated in Hanwella.
Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said a group of people with ulterior motives had incited the residents. He said several of the ring leaders had been identified.
SSP Rohana said the Chief Inspector was the father of a 12-yearold son and an 11-year-old daughter and had a 25-year record of service in the Police Department. He had received an award for exemplary conduct.
He said the CID had taken over the investigations into the incident which also injured seven police personnel and two civilians. “We are checking whether this was a premeditated act of violence because several of the trees were partially cut and pushed down when the police moved in,” SSP Rohana said. He said 1,500 personnel including those from the Special Task Force l have been deployed at Thunnana in Hanwella.
We are checking whether this was a premeditated act of violence. A group of people had incited the residents