Go to HRC or courts for redress if your houses are damaged during police operations

People can seek redress from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) or the judiciary if their properties suffered any damage during the continuing ‘Yukthiya’, anti-narcotics operation, Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says.

However, he said that policemen did not visit houses for inspection according to their whims and fancies.

“The police usually raid a house because they are aware illegal activities are taking place there. They can also come in if there are people involved in crimes. Mistakes, of course, can happen. But that’s not a frequent occurrence,” the Minister said addressing the media in Colombo.

Rajapakshe said that ‘Yukthiya’ was a large-scale operation and at times people could be inconvenienced. However, the operation was being carried out for the betterment of society, he said.The Minister added that such operations should have been carried out earlier.