I saw Yakadaya in the Police cell

The article on the arrest of Yakadaya deftly compiled by Ms. Kumudini Hettiarachchi which appeared in The Sunday Times Plus of October 28 was interesting reading to me as I was one of the persons who observed this episode, albeit from the sidelines.It happened this way. I was appointed as a Clerk to the Police Office, Matale, on December 1, 1954, and served in that office up to July 1956. My first boss was A.S.P. Jack Van Sanden whom I will not hesitate to call an Officer and Gentleman.

I knew Sub-Inspector Andrews who was attached to the Matale Headquarters Police Station at that time as well as Sgt. De Hoedt who was Officer in Charge of Rattota Police Station, both of whom came into contact with me in their official capacity. I may have even seen the Junior Andrews hanging around the police compound.

I saw Yakadaya in the Police cell after he was arrested and one thing that impressed me were his strong fore-arms resembling those of our ace batsman Sanath Jayasuriya – ebony like.

Junior Andrews may be a prouder man to hear that it was a police party led by Sub-Inspector Andrews along with Sgt. De Hoedt who apprehended Yakadaya and that A.S.P. Van Sanden came into the picture later on as is not uncommon in police activities even now.

By saying so, I mean no disrespect to the late A.S.P. Van Sanden for whom I still have a great regard. He may have directed the operation from behind the scene being the Gazetted Officer in Charge of the Matale District.

By Robert Joseph, Retired S.L.A.S.