Leading News from Sri Lanka::


Sun, Oct 2, 2011, 10:30 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Oct 02, Dompe: Sri Lanka police have arrested five suspects in connection with the death of a suspect in Dompe while under police custody, Police Media Spokesperson SSP Maxi Procter has said.

The Criminal Investigations Department has arrested the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of Crimes, a sub-inspector (SI), a Police Sergeant and two Police Constables yesterday. The suspects are being interrogated currently and they will be produced in court, the Spokesperson has added.

Tensions between the residents and police erupted in Dompe, a town about 35 miles east of Colombo, on Friday when residents attacked the police station after a suspect in police custody died during an escape attempt.

The police said the suspect, Gayan Saranga (28), jumped out of a moving vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.

Thousands of residents incensed by the incident have attacked the police station and set fire damaging government property. The elite police Special Task Force (STF) police have been deployed to maintain the law and order.

The police chief, IGP N.K.Ilangakoon ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to carry out a special investigation over the incident.

Meanwhile, the OIC of the Dompe Police station has been transferred to Gampaha Police Station with immediate effect, OIC of the Eravur Police has been called to take over the OIC duties at Dompe, Police Media Unit said