Feb 26, Colombo: The Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara has instructed the Inspector General of Police to suspend the police officers involved in an assault on a law student at the Peliyagoda Police Station.

Accordingly, a Chief Inspector of Police and three constables attached to the Peliyagoda Police Station have been suspended for assaulting and injuring law student Migara Gunaratne, the son of former Governor Maithri Gunaratne, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara stated that a full investigation is underway into the incident.

The assault had taken place on the 23rd when a woman who had been arrested by the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Bureau in connection with a fraud case was assaulted, according to a statement issued by the Police Headquarters.

The OIC of the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Bureau, Chief Inspector Linton de Silva and a group of police officers have arrested four Nigerians, two Belarusian women, a Sri Lankan man and a woman and detained on the 23rd of this month.

The arrests were made following an operation carried out on the orders of the SSP in charge of the Kelaniya Division. The suspects were arrested on charges of defrauding Rs. 1,745,550, possession of 25.12 grams of heroin and other drugs, possession of 25 bundles of paper used to print counterfeit dollar notes and engaging in prostitution.

Following the arrest, a sub employee has informed that a person has come to visit one of the suspects, Malwatta Vidanalage Prathibha Dilrukshi, was visited at around 8.35 pm. The assault incident has happened during the visit.

The investigation is being carried by a team under the supervision of SSP DS Wickramasinghe, Director of the Special Investigations Unit and another team under the supervision of SSP Sumith Gunaratne of the Kelaniya Division out on the orders of IGP Chandana Wickramaratne, the statement said

A Chief Inspector of Police and three police constables attached to the Peliyagoda Police Station have been suspended with immediate effect in connection with the ongoing investigation. Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara stated that a full investigation is being conducted into the incident.