Court reprimands cops for releasing tanker trucks to customs, disregarding order

Colombo (News 1st); The two tanker trucks suspected to contain substandard coconut oil and were seized in Divulapitiya were handed over to Sri Lanka Customs on Wednesday (31) were investigations.

Also on Wednesday (31), Marawila Magistrate Rakitha Abeysinghe questioned Sri Lanka Police as to how the two tanker trucks seized in Dankotuwa with suspected carcinogenic coconut oil were released to customs. The Officer-In-Charge of the Dankotuwa Police informed the court that the two tanker trucks were released on the instructions of the legal division of Sri Lanka Police. However, on Tuesday (30), the court ordered for the two tanker trucks to be stationed at the court premises and to call for a report from the Government Analyst's Department. The OIC was speechless when the magistrate questioned as to whether Sri Lanka Police is bound to follow the orders of the court or the advice of the legal division of Sri Lanka Police. The Magistrate ordered the OIC to immediately investigate the matter and report back to the court. The matter will be called up again on the 21st of April 2021.