Policemen rewarded for gallantry

Sarath Malalasekera

Inspector General of Police N K Illangakoon yesterday distributed nearly Rs.14 million as rewards among 631 police personnel who had brought honour to the Police department by arresting and prosecuting several suspects who were involved in the Central Bank bombing, hard drug trafficking, possession of explosives and murderers who had killed innocent people in several parts of the country.

IGP NK Illangakoon presenting a reward to a policeman at yesterday’s awards ceremony. Picture by Ruwan de Silva

A special recognition and a special award was presented to the CID team who were responsible for conducting investigations and prosecuting LTTE suspects, including leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who were involved in the attack on the Central Bank building on January 31, 1996.

Prabhakaran and several others were prosecuted before the late Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya. After a lengthy trial Prabhakaran (in absentia) was sentenced to 200 years rigorous imprisonment and the others were sentenced to life imprisonment.

This is the only occasion that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was sentenced in a Court of law locally and internationally, a senior police officer said.

The CID team led by the then DIG Punnya de Silva and investigations conducted by then CID Senior SP Asoka Wijetilleke obtained the assistance of the Central Bureau of India (CBI) in order to compare the finger prints of LTTE leader Prabhakaran.

Prabhakaran’s finger prints were found in a plaque recovered at a residence of one of the suspects who was taken into custody in connection with the bombing of the Central Bank building, from the Killinochchi area.

Forty-two Police personnel were given commendation certificates while four Police personnel received pay increments yesterday’s ceremony.

In the future, Police personnel who are involved in detecting and arresting wanted suspects in he country for crimes will be rewarded monthly. said the IGP.

The award winners are from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Intelligent Section, STF, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), President’s Security Division (PSD), Police Special Branch and Police Stations in Kantale, Ratnapura, Negombo, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Vavuniya, Nugegoda, Kelaniya, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Colombo South and Kuliyapitiya.