A lawyers’ group has requested Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to intervene to ensure the safety of a nine-year-old child who is allegedly being threatened with death by several racketeers including a North-West based politician.
Writing to the head of NCPA, the Lawyers Forum for the People (LFP) had claimed that it is believed that the child might reveal information about illegal rackets through social media.
The letter read that the child had seen illegal activities such as drug peddling and illegal diamond and firearm deals, and that the aforementioned parties had attempted to murder the child on several occasions due to the fear that the child might reveal the information.
According to the letter, the child’s father had informed the LFP that several politicians were involved.
LFP’s Executive Board Member Attorney-at-Law Achala Seneviratne had further informed NCPA that information about the murder attempts had been conveyed to the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Madampe Police Station, Police Headquarters in addition to NCPA.
Furthermore, she stressed that even though the child’s father had lodged a complaint with Chilaw Superintendent of Police (SP) Lalith Rohana, thus far, none of the authorities had taken any tangible measure to look into the matter.
Alleging that the respondents of these complaints roam freely, Seneviratne had also given NCPA the names and other relevant information of the suspects.
She had further informed NCPA that although the child’s father had visited the Madampe Police Station several times Police had not accepted his complaint.
LFP has requested NCPA to take prompt measures to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the said crimes, and ensure the safety of the child.
In addition, LFP has sent copies of the letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director and the Police Child and Women Bureau.
