Be lenient on young couples - Dullas

PRIYAN DE SILVA - Matara Sports Correspondent

The Police should be more considerate when detaining young couples alleged to be 'misbehaving' in public, said Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. He was addressing officers in charge of Police stations and media personnel of the Matara and Hambanthota districts recently.

About two and half years ago, the Matara Police rounded up 80 couples and detained them. These youths faced much embarrassment and shame when they were handed over to their parents by the Police, the minister said.

Is it wrong for a girl and boy to hold hands and sit cuddled together? the minister asked. "They were not naked or misbehaving. They may have kissed but is this a crime? Haven't these Police officers who detained these couples ever been in love?," he questioned.

He added that the first sign one sees when entering Matara is 'Rooms Rs 400'. It is youths who can not afford Rs 400 or do not want to go to extremes that spend a few hours holding hands or sit cuddled together at the Matara Beach Park, Minister Alahapperuma said.

The workshop was organized by DIG Southern Province Chandana Wickremerathne, SSPs Tennakoon and Nishantha Pieris to foster good relations between the Police and media personnel. Silumina Editor Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi, Shri FM News Director Nilantha Rajendra, Head of AFP's operations in Sri Lanka and Maldives Amal Jayasinghe and SSP Tangalle Nishantha Sisira Kumara participated.