because of its vengeful acts. "Our support is sought even as our members are made to suffer", he said.

He gave the example of cases relating to election violations implicating UNP allies being withdrawn despite the availability of evidence.

He said that in Ratnapura alone there were over 500 cases of election violence, including destruction of houses of PA allies. "The police must be instructed to take action to stem this. Apart from a few officers, the others are too afraid to do anything", he said.

He pointed out that the government transferred a number of officers in charge of police stations, violating the government’s pledge to not effect transfers prior to the establishment of the Police Commission.

He said that the police were demoralised and biased.

On the abuse of legal provision,he said that the Offensive Weapons Act was being used to arrest persons after placing explosives in their custody.

Quoting data S. B. Dissanayake (Minister of Agriculture and Samurdhi) said that the crime rate had dropped since Minister John Amaratunga took over.

He acted that abductions, arson, grievous injury, attempted murder and murder among others had all decreased since Minister Amaratunga took over the ministry.

He recalled the high-handed actions of certain police officers that went unpunished during the PA regime. He said that DIG Punya de Silva went unpunished even though he was faulted in a fundamental rights case filed by Minister Rajitha Seneviratne.

He gave the example of a helicopter tender for which Hemas had made the lowest bid. "The head of the company was detained at the request of