Police allowed arson attack suspect to escape : Range Bandara

(October 14, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) UNP parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara said yesterday that police had created the environment for a suspect in the arson attack on his house and office to escape from Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

The OIC of the Kohuwala police had gone to the hospital to record a statement from the suspect only at 7pm. The information of the suspect's presence in the hospital had been conveyed to police at 10 in the morning. The suspect had slipped away from the hospital at 3pm. When all the information had been provided, the police had not taken prompt action. The people of this country would understand why they did not do so, Mr. Range Bandara said.

The house and office of the UNP parliamentarian in Madampe was set on fire on the 4th of this month.

Mr. Range Bandara was retuning home after campaigning for the Southern Provincial Council when the incident took place.

Producing photographs at a media briefing on Monday, the parliamentarian said that an individual who set fire to his house and office was being treated at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital for burn injuries.

“It is this group that engaged in this crime. They used these two vehicles for it. One of those individuals had sustained burn injuries and is being treated for his wounds.

“Therefore, I informed the DIG that it is easy to carry out investigations into the incident. The incident took place on the 4th and the said individual had been admitted to the hospital at 1.30pm on the following day. This is the person who committed the crime and he is in Ward 27 of the Kalubowila hospital with burn injuries. He is receiving in-house treatment,” Mr. Bandara said.

At another media briefing held yesterday, the UNP parliamentarian said that the individual had slipped out of the hospital without informing hospital authorities.

“We have been informed that the suspect had left the hospital around 3pm without informing hospital authorities. I have also learnt that hospital authorities had informed the police in this regard. The OIC of the Kohuwala police had arrived at 7pm to record a statement. Why did he wait until 7 to look onto the matter that was informed at 10 in the morning. I am suspicious about this. I think the environment for him to escape had been created by the police. If not, when all information had been provided, why didn't the police take action? I hope the people of this country understands why they didn't do so,” Range Bandara said.

Commenting on the issue, an official of the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital said that when a patient went missing, the police were informed on the matter.

They added that the police were informed about the disappearance of a patient in Ward 7, in line with this practice.

Meanwhile, Police media spokesman, Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka said the police had not received a complaint from the UNP parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara on such an individual.

-Sri Lanka Guardian