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CCTV for 100 police stations with cells ‘not visible’
The Law & Order Ministry will initially instal CCTV security cameras in the cells of 100 police stations where the location of the cells made it difficult to be monitored by the police officers, Ministry Secretary Jagath Wijeweera told the Sunday Times.
The move comes in the wake of Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake’s directive last week to Police chief Pujith Jayasundara to instal CCTV cameras in the cells of all police stations following the controversy over the alleged suicide of a suspect inside the cell of the Pussellawa police station on September 17.
Although police claim the man hanged himself, relatives of the deceased have expressed doubt. Peradeniya Hospital Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) issued an open verdict on the death and parts of the man’s body were sent to the Government Analyst’s Department for further tests.
A sub inspector and a constable who were on duty on the night of the incident have already been suspended, while the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the station has been transferred. An internal investigation is currently ongoing.
According to the Sri Lanka Police, there are 460 police stations islandwide.
Mr. Wijeweera said eventually cameras would be installed in the cells of all police stations islandwide, adding that the process would be completed in a few months.
Although the government did not know how much the whole operation would cost the secretary was confident that the allocation of funds would not be an issue.