Sagara Kariyawasam released on bail

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam was released on bail by Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Buddhadasa after being produced before court on Monday (10).

The Magistrate ordered his release on two surety bails of Rs. 2 million each and imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.

Kariyawasam was arrested earlier today by the Colombo Central Crimes Investigation Bureau over remarks he allegedly made during a media briefing concerning an alleged plot to assassinate the Inspector General of Police.

He was subsequently produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.

The SLPP has rejected allegations that comments made by its General Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, regarding Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya amounted to a death threat, saying his remarks have been taken out of context.

SLPP spokesman Sanjeewa Edirimanne said Kariyawasam’s comments should be considered in their entirety and in the context of concerns over transparency, impartiality and fairness in the Police Department and its investigative processes.

He said it was unreasonable to suggest that Kariyawasam, a senior Attorney-at-Law with decades of legal experience, would publicly issue a death threat against the country’s top police officer at a media briefing attended by national media organisations.

According to Edirimanne, critics had focused on an isolated portion of Kariyawasam’s statement while disregarding its broader context and intent. He said the remarks were aimed at highlighting the need to maintain public confidence in the independence and impartiality of police investigations.

Kariyawasam’s comments, made at an SLPP media briefing on August 3, have since triggered controversy and calls for an investigation.

He had referred to three former Inspectors General of Police who, he said, had faced unfortunate outcomes under the present administration, and urged IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya to serve the State and the people rather than the Government.

Kariyawasam also said the SLPP did not want to see the current Police Chief go down in history as an IGP who was “beaten to death by people on the streets”, a remark that subsequently became the focus of political controversy.

Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa backed Kariyawasam’s position in Parliament on August 4.

Rajapaksa said former IGPs who had acted in the interests of political parties had faced serious consequences and warned against allowing a similar situation to develop under the present Police Chief.

He said the remarks were intended as a warning against political interference in policing and accused Government MPs of misrepresenting the SLPP’s position.