Sri Lanka: Officer Murdering a Fellow Officer

September 27, 2011

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

The murder of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Sisira Kumara Muttetuwagama by a Chief Inspector (CI) attached to the Special Task Force (STF) in Arantalawa, Ampara, Mr B A Jayathilake, on 25 September 2011 is a clear vindication of the repeated warnings by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), that Sri Lanka's rule of law system is in serious crisis. The country's law enforcement agencies, such as the police, including the STF, have lost all its discipline. According to reports, it was over an issue of disciplining of two police officers that the conflict between the ASP and the CI took place. It is alleged that the CI shot the ASP. The ASP was later pronounced dead. The Inspector was also shot. Reports allege that he shot himself.

Both officers belong to the STF. The STF is a paramilitary group operating within the police in Sri Lanka. The STF is given more and more engagements relating to law enforcement, perhaps as a result of the loss of faith in the policing system by the government as well as by the people.

The STF consists of officers who are provided extraordinary training in the use of firearms. They were considered a necessity at the time of the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, now the STF are engaged in ordinary law enforcement activities. Their art of dealing with things is based on their capacity to use brute force.

That the discipline within a policing system could break down to a point to where an Inspector could shoot, as is alleged in this case, his immediate superior officer, an ASP, shows that the discipline that could be enforced upon the rank and file is rather laughable.

We will comment further upon the event when more details are available on the case.

The event is an occasion and reminder for the civil society in the country to react to the dangerous situation that is developing in Sri Lanka due to the degeneration of law enforcement agencies.

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

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