MP Chandima Weerakkody requested the Public Security Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekara to set up a Police Post at the Gintota Plywood premises to ensure that parts of machinery and other equipment is not stolen by thieves at night.
The MP raised the issue during the Question Round for Oral Answers in Parliament yesterday,
He referred to a case where an open warrant has been issued to persons in Colombo 3 by the Galle Additional Magistrate. These persons have failed to appear before Court and have not paid a gratuity of Rs. 201,337.50 as well. The MP said that these persons had not been arrested though one year and two months had passed since the warrant was issued. The Galle OIC had stated that the relevant Police Station should arrest them since summons and open warrants have been issued for about 20 cases filed against them in the investigation conducted on October 2 last year in this regard.
He asked the Public Security Minister if he was aware of this situation and what steps he had taken in this regard.
Minister Weerasekara said that the Police had gone to their Colombo residence to arrest these persons on several occasions but they had not been there. The Minister, however, said that on September 14 they had surrendered to Court and had paid due Rs. 201,337.50 and therefore, the warrant had been cancelled.
MP Weerakkody said that this is only the amount payable to one employee of the relevant company and several other employees have to be compensated as well. He, therefore, urged the Public Security Minister to ensure that the Police arrest these persons.
Minister Weerasekara said that the Police cannot respond to every warrant and go in search of suspects. He added that the case was filed by the Labour Commissioner and there are limitations on how many the Police can go after. “If they are to go after every suspect, then there must be thousands of Police Officers at every Police Station,” he said.
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