Assault on a policewoman at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Vihara Temple

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramarathne has ordered that the mobile phone containing telephone conversations related to the alleged sexual harassment of a female police constable at the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Vihara temple be sent to the Government Analyst and a report called for. This order has been issued to the Anuradhapura Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit.

The objective here is to conduct a voice test on the audio recording of the complaint made over the phone by the relevant constable to the OIC of Udumulla Police regarding the harassment she experienced.

The officer accused in connection with this incident is Sub-Inspector Chandra Suminda Hewapathinige, who is serving attached to Udumulla Police. The Chief Magistrate has further ordered the relevant suspect Sub-Inspector, who is currently released on bail, to appear before the court again on the upcoming July 07th.

Although the relevant harassment occurred on August 01, 2023, it is noteworthy that the suspect Sub-Inspector connected to it was arrested and presented to court much later, specifically on December 02, 2024.

Although suspending a police officer facing such serious criminal charges is standard police procedure, strong accusations have been leveled by police officers of various ranks regarding how the North Central Provincial Police chiefs have handled this suspect. After the incident, this officer was transferred to Alayapaththuwa Police, located about five kilometers away, and within a month, he was recalled to his previous station, Udumulla Police. Although it was pointed out that there is strong disapproval among officers regarding the accused officer continuing to serve at the same police station, the relevant Deputy Inspector General of Police has stated that he has not received any report regarding such a protest.