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AFP
Colombo
Sri Lanka's police faced censure Friday over an attempt to"abduct"a student activist, a tactic widely used against dissidents by the previous strongman leader's regime.
Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he lodged a protest with police chief Pujith Jayasundara over an attempt by plain-clothed officers to seize on Thursday night a student known for his anti-government views.
Other students prevented him from being grabbed by the plain clothed officers.
Samaraweera said the"white van abduction"was to recreate the fear psychosis associated with former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse's regime. The minister said the new government came to power in January 2015 promising to end the"white van culture"and ensure people had more freedom, but the latest police action was a retrograde step.
"I spoke with the Inspector General of Police and he said he will take disciplinary action against those responsible,"the minister told reporters in Colombo."We condemn this action of the police."Being"white-vanned"had become a verb synonymous with being abducted -- a tactic widely used by Sri Lankan forces to deal with troublesome opponents during Rajapakse's decade in power.
