sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

ACTORS 230
Police By long tradition the Ceylon Police, like the British Police, do not as a general practice
carry firearms. They have been trained to use them, and are equipped with them when an
emergency arises, in order that they may deal with armed criminals and political terrorists.
It is a matter for the consideration of the government whether further action is necessary
to deal with threats to security in particular areas of the Island, especially when terrorists,
who shoot and kill unarmed police officers and run away, are active. 231
It is very desirable, if not essential, that police officers should be able to communicate
without difficulty with the people in the area where they are stationed. Misunderstandings
could be avoided if there is mutual intercourse between the two parties. 232
It should be impressed on all police officers, that when they are in uniform or on duty they
cease to be Sinhalese or Tamils or Muslims. They must then under all circumstance act
fairly and impartially and fearlessly, heedless of their own race or religion. 233
230. “Perpetrators identified in the report were not prosecuted. Instead, in 1982, Parliament passed the Indemnity Act, No 20 of 1982, which
prevented legal action of any kind against any representative or employee of the government for any act, “legal or otherwise, done or
purported to be done with a view to restoring law and order during the period 1 August 1977 to 31 August 1977, if done in good faith...”
This Act was further amended in December 1988 to extend the relevant period of indemnity to 16 December 1988.” “Twenty Years of Make
Believe – Sri Lanka’s Presidential Commissions of Inquiry” Index: ASA 37/005/2009 Amnesty International, June 2009 at p.10.
231.
Commission Report, 1980, p.268; “M.C. Sansoni did acknowledge police failures to protect civilians and to prevent violence, and identified
a few police officers who had instigated or participated in violence against Tamils.” Amnesty International, June 2009 at p.9.
232.
Commission Report, 1980, p.268.
233.
Commission Report, 1980, p.268.
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