Videoing connected to crime detection - ASG

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

Sinhalese as well as Muslims were videoed in the search operation carried out in the Modera area mainly to bring down the escalating crime rate, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Palitha Fernando submitted to the Supreme Court yesterday.

The ASG submitted that there had been 18 major crimes in the area including a murder. The ASG also submitted that not only the Tamils but also over 400 Sinhala, and over 200 Muslim people were thus lined up and videoed on July 2, he submitted. He further submitted that the Police Ordinance provided for such actions.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, PC and Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Justice K. Sripavan.

The Court on Monday directed the Attorney General to explain the basis on which the operation had been carried out.

The direction was a sequel to a motion filed by the Ceylon Workers Congress.

Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran for CWC on Monday submitted that Tamil persons were lined up and videoed in a mass round up operation in a discriminatory manner in the early hours of July 2, in violation of the Supreme Court Order.

The rights application was filed by the CWC against the discriminatory arrests of the Tamils.

The case will be mentioned on July 28.