News
Ranwala’s driving licence suspended; victims refuse compensation
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Mahara Additional Magistrate Bandara Illangasinghe on Friday ordered the police to suspend the driving licence of former speaker Asoka Ranwala, who is at the centre of a controversy over an accident in Sapugaskanda last week.
The order follows a request by the police.
The magistrate also ordered the police to submit a report on the medical and physical condition of Mr Ranwala after he is discharged from hospital. The former speaker is receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo.
Scene at the Mahara Magistrate court on Friday. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Police told courts blood and urine samples that judicial medical officers collected from the suspect have been sent to the Government Analyst for further tests, and a report is awaited.
Police also submitted to court a report on the condition of the vehicle the former speaker was driving at the time of the collision with another car and a motorcycle. They said the report had flagged a brake issue and noted the vehicle had been poorly maintained.
The former speaker did not appear in court, as he was still under treatment at the National Hospital.
Police informed the magistrate that one of the victims is being treated at the same hospital and is due to undergo surgery on his leg, while the wounded seven-month-old boy and his mother, who sustained injuries to her head and face, have been discharged.
Additional Magistrate Illangasinghe sought clarification as to who received the injuries — whether it was the victims or the suspect.
When the police said it was the victims, the judge asked why the suspect was admitted to the hospital when he had suffered no injuries and whether he had been recommended to undergo any surgery.
Mr Ranwala was represented by lawyers Lal Kumarapeli, Akalanka Ukwatte and Deshal Paul.
Mr Ukwatta said there were some concerns over the physical condition of the former speaker due to a spinal cord issue.
The lawyers, however, said the former speaker had not been recommended to undergo surgery.
The lawyers stated that Mr Ranwala is prepared to make a compassionate payment of Rs. 50,000 to the hospitalised victim and Rs. 25,000 each to the mother and her seven-month-old child.
The magistrate said the court could not decide on the compensation while the case was ongoing, and it could be decided at the conclusion of the case.
However, the additional magistrate said the court would not intervene in the injured party’s decision to accept or reject the payment.
Representing the victimised party, D.U.P. Athukorala—the husband of the hospitalised patient K.D. Pathma—refused the payment.
Mr Ranwala’s lawyer, Ukwatta, complained to the court that his client had already been tried by media and social media and argued that the police inquiry was unfairly focused only on his client.
In response, police said that they are conducting investigations into all parties involved.
| DIG slams cowardly behaviour of police officers The Police Special Inquiry unit is carrying out an in-depth investigation based on the findings of the probe carried out by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) W.P.J. Senadheera. According to the initial findings, the officer in charge of Sapugaskanda police, the officer in charge of traffic, the sergeant, the divisional superintendent, the assistant superintendents and even the senior superintendents of the police have not carried out their jobs properly, DIG Senadheera said. “The delay in obtaining urine and blood samples to determine if the persons involved in the accident were under the influence of alcohol was a major lapse. Even while the suspect was at the hospital, the police had a better opportunity to have more accurate tests carried out by the judicial medical officer, yet the testing was delayed,” he said. DIG Senadheera said the officers had failed to arrest the suspect immediately after an inquiry and delayed the required actions, which were eventually done only after the Inspector General had to intervene and order the arrest. “This inaction and cowardly behaviour of the police officers tarnished the good name of police and caused an unpleasant situation for the government. Law is equal to all; therefore, such incidents should be handled swiftly, and tests should be conducted immediately to confirm whether the drivers were drunk,” he said. He said that the in-depth investigation report would be handed over to the Police Commission if it revealed that the officer’s dereliction of duty required removal from service. Meanwhile, a police officer under scrutiny told the Sunday Times that the offence was done by a politician, but they were the ones being punished. He said that always the weakest get cornered; as such, they have been subjected to inquiry. The officer claimed that police officers follow orders but are finally subjected to inquiries and given punishment transfers. Meanwhile, Police Media spokesman F.U. Wootler said that eight days after the accident, they have received the reports on the former speaker’s blood and urine samples. According to the report, the former speaker had not been under the influence of liquor. However, a senior police officer said last week that samples were obtained nearly 14 hours after the accident. | |
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