Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday condemned the attempted ‘abduction’ of a university student in a ‘white van’ and said that he had spoken to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to take action against the errant policemen.

Answering questions posed to him by a reporter at the culmination of an event in Colombo yesterday the Finance and Media Minister said the Police would investigate if the act was part of a ‘conspiracy’ to ‘taint’ the good name of the government.

A group of police officers in civilian clothing had attempted to arrest Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC) Convener Ryan Jayalath outside the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) in Colombo yesterday.

The arrest, or purported ‘abduction’ of Ryan Jayalath was foiled by those present at the meeting who expressed anger at the manner in which the Police had attempted to arrest the Convener of the MFSAC.

Speaking to reporters outside the OPA, National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) Chairman K. D. Lal Kantha condemned the action by the Police, saying things would have been very different if the Police had arrived in uniform and perform the duties lawfully.

“Is Ryan a thief, a robber, a drug addict or a criminal that they turn up in white vans to abduct him?” he asked, “He is the Convener of an organization fighting for the rights of the people. Has this become a joke to the government?”

Lal Kantha also said that the behavior of the Police officers, who arrived in civilian clothing to abduct Ryan Jayalath, prompted the question of if the current government was resorting to culture of impunity perpetrated by the previous regime.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera however laid the question to rest by telling reporters IGP Pujith Jayasundara has been appraised on the matter and would take appropriate action against the errant officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).