-By Sampath Dillimuni
(Lanka-e-News -05.Oct.2024, 5.35 pm) Under letter No. D/HRM/ADM/1793/2024 dated 2024.10.03, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya has appointed Police Officer T.M.A.J. Rodrigo as Director of the Public Peace and Management Division, effective immediately under special duty orders. We must emphasize that this appointment should never have been made.
This police officer, Rodrigo, has tarnished the reputation of the police department by serving private agendas. He was part of the notorious dealings with underworld figures, and recordings of these conversations were even released to the media. Rodrigo is a close associate of the discredited former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, both of whom had connections with underworld criminals. He has committed multiple human rights violations and has several complaints against him.
Known as the “Black Kit Man” of the riot control unit, Rodrigo has been seen brutally assaulting peaceful protestors, students, teachers, and journalists. We have all witnessed these scenes through the media. He has gone beyond his duty, using his uniform and authority to violently attack protestors, causing severe injuries, including head injuries. His actions have brought shame to the police department.
In 2022, Rodrigo was involved in the violent suppression of peaceful protestors near the Union Place area. His name has been mentioned in numerous fundamental rights petitions for these violations. At one point, he was seen throwing tear gas canisters at protestors while exposing himself to the gas, a display of incompetence that humiliated the Sri Lanka Police on an international scale.
Additionally, Rodrigo falsely claimed that activist Wasantha Mudalige threatened him, submitting fake statements to the court, and attempting to frame Mudalige under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. This manipulation of the judiciary further proves that Rodrigo is unfit for his new position.
It is clear that an officer responsible for violent assaults, tear gas misuse, and public harassment, including the deaths of two individuals, should not be appointed as Director of Public Peace and Management. Instead, he should face punishment, not receive promotions.
Therefore, we urge Police Chief Priyantha Weerasuriya to revoke Rodrigo’s appointment and reassign him to a lesser, appropriate duty within the department. Until a correct decision is made, Lanka E-News will continue to closely monitor this situation.
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by (2024-10-05 12:06:48)
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