Sri Lanka Police has issued a clarification regarding a video circulating on social media which claims that residents of Mandaramnuwara protested against the Mandaramnuwara Police during a relief distribution operation.
According to the Police Media Spokesperson, the video has been shared alongside misleading interpretations suggesting that the police had clashed with residents or interfered with aid distribution. The clarification follows an internal report obtained from the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Mandaramnuwara Police.
As stated in the report, several areas in the Mandaramnuwara police division were affected by landslides during the recent disaster, forcing residents to be sheltered at safe camps. Since road access has been restricted due to the disaster, relief goods were transported to the area by helicopter and handed over to local Grama Niladhari officers, who were responsible for distribution to affected households.
Police stated that officers were deployed only to provide security during the aircraft landing and to ensure the safety of the public, adding that the distribution of goods was not handled by the police at any stage.
On December 7, a group of approximately 150 to 200 residents from around the Mandaramnuwara police station reportedly objected to the goods being handed over to state officials and instead kept the relief stock inside a school building. Police officers acted to maintain peace and prevent any confrontation, while the OIC informed the Divisional Secretary about the situation.
It was further clarified that the Mandaramnuwara Police Station and the Grama Niladhari office operate from the same premises located in front of a tea factory. Police stated that no group entered the police station at any time, although some individuals recorded videos and shouted at officials who were present, which later circulated on social media.
Police noted that footage shared online creates a false impression that the police station was surrounded or attacked, and said this misrepresentation harms the reputation of the officers who have been working continuously to protect lives and property since the onset of the national emergency.
The Police Media Spokesperson said the clarification was issued to prevent the spread of misinformation regarding the incident. (Newswire)