Suspension of work for the constable who got into an altercation with Minister Shantha Padmakumara.

 Steps have been taken to suspend the service of the police constable attached to the Suriyakanda Police Station, who was accused in connection with an assault incident involving Mr. Shantha Padmakumara, the Ratnapura District Member of Parliament for the National People's Power. This suspension will be in effect until the completion of further investigations related to this incident.

Police sources state.

The constable arrested under three charges related to the incident was released on bail after being produced in court.

According to police investigations into the incident, the constable had lodged a complaint with the Kolonna Police via the 119 center, stating that on the 20th of last month, around 8:40 PM, while returning home after duty, he was assaulted by the MP and a group near Kalugal Temple, and his motorcycle was snatched. However, MP Shantha Padmakumara, in a complaint made around 10:10 PM that night, stated that while he was traveling in a cab, the said constable blocked the road with his motorcycle and attempted to assault him.

Commenting on this incident, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Mahinda Gunaratne, in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Province, stated that although the constable claimed the MP assaulted him, the judicial medical report showed no signs of assault on his body. Furthermore, although the constable complained that his motorcycle was snatched, the Senior Deputy Inspector General pointed out that a doubt arises as to whether the constable made a false complaint, as the motorcycle was found at the same location when police teams arrived there.

However, medical reports state that the constable, who was hospitalized after the incident, had alcohol odor in his breath, and the police have arranged to send his blood samples to the Government Analyst for further examination. The constable was arrested under charges of unlawful obstruction, criminal force, and criminal intimidation and was produced before the Embilipitiya Magistrate's Court, where Magistrate Thilina U. Peiris ordered the suspect to be released on a personal bail of two hundred thousand rupees.