Kalpitiya OIC transferred following violent clashes

The officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Kalpitiya Police Station has been transferred with immediate effect in the wake of the violent clashes which broke out yesterday involving fishermen in the area. 

Chief Inspector Manjula Udumalagala has been transferred to the Puttalam Police Station, as ordered by the Puttalam DIG Champika Siriwardena based on the instructions of the IGP.

An Inspector attached to the Wanathawilluwa Police Station has been appointed as the Acting OIC of the Kalpitiya Police Station. 

A group of fishermen in Kalpitiya had engaged in a protest on Thursday (20) and Friday (21) against the use of banned fishing gear by certain fishermen. 

A tense situation was reported in the area yesterday when another group of fishermen, accused of using banned fishing gear, had arrived at the location in an attempt to impede their protest, resulting in a clash between the two groups. 

The situation took a turn for the worst after some protesters had proceeded to set fire to fishing boats, motorcycles and a small lorry. 

Additional police teams as well as police Special Task Force (STF) personnel were later deployed in order to restore normalcy in the area while it has been reported that around 100 STF personnel are still stationed there. 

Senior DIG M.R. Latiff told Ada Derana that STF personnel will be withdrawn from Kalpitiya by the evening if a peaceful situation prevails today. 
 
Meanwhile it has been reported that fishermen in Negombo, Chilaw and Kandakkuliya have refrained from setting out to sea today and are engaging in a protest.