Vegetarians don't hurt humans

On May 20, Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera's vehicle is stopped on the southern expressway by police constable Suminda Suman and charged for speeding. An attempt by Mr. Gunasekera's driver to explain that the Honourable Deputy Minister is in the vehicle carries no weight with the policeman who discharges his duty and levies a fine.

Ten days later, PC Suman leaves his home for work in his private car when he is stopped by a gang. He is assaulted and the car burnt. Making a complaint at the police station PC Suman claims that he is the victim of a revenge attack and accuses the deputy minister of being responsible. He also notes, in his complaint that CCTV cameras had recorded the incident on the expressway.

The deputy minister accordingly makes a statement to the police and denies all knowledge and responsibility for the attack. He merely states that a speeding incident occurred on the highway, that a fine was imposed for speeding by a cop; and he thought no more about it.

As an honourable Member of Parliament and a deputy minister of the government, no doubt, he is telling the truth. Furthermore he is entitled to his innocence, as every citizen is, unless proved otherwise in a court of law. But if these two factors were not enough to assume his truthfulness and defer a verdict of guilt, the deputy minister goes on to say: "I am a vegetarian; I do not eat meat or fish. So how can I harm anyone?"