The arrest and remand of Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, the current Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, following a car accident that caused only property damage on the Wellawatta Seaway, is being portrayed as part of a premeditated conspiracy, according to police headquarters.
In response, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has launched an inquiry into the incident, as revealed by police sources.
The accident in question occurred on the night of October 28 last year, when Mr. Seneviratne’s jeep, while traveling from Bambalapitiya towards Dehiwala, collided with a bus and a parked car in the Wellawatta area. Though there were no injuries and only property damage, Mr. Seneviratne was arrested for failing to prevent the accident and for allegedly driving under the influence.
Despite the minor nature of the incident, which would typically warrant bail, Mr. Seneviratne was remanded in custody, reportedly due to the intervention of a senior police officer and a politician. At the time of the accident, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne was informed and made inquiries about the case through the Wellawatta Police Station Commander. Mr. Wickramaratne instructed that bail be granted to Mr. Seneviratne, as it was within the station’s authority.
However, the Police Station Commander informed Mr. Wickramaratne that a senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) had instructed otherwise, preventing bail from being issued. In response, Mr. Wickramaratne reiterated his order and instructed the police to make an official note in their records. He also contacted the Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Colombo South Division, emphasizing that Mr. Seneviratne, a respected police officer, should not be treated unfairly, and that steps should be taken to grant bail.
Following further discussions with the Senior DIG, political pressure reportedly escalated. Shortly after Mr. Wickramaratne’s phone call, a politician criticized him for intervening in the case and ordering the release of Mr. Seneviratne on bail. As a result, Mr. Seneviratne was ultimately presented before the court and remanded.
In response to this situation, a group of retired police officers rallied to secure Mr. Seneviratne’s release through a motion. This group, now growing into a police collective, has reportedly aligned itself with Mr. Seneviratne in support of current opposition leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with the aim of backing his candidacy for the presidency.
