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The Sri Lankan government today (May 27) dismissed a US State Department report that questioned the human rights record of its police and security forces.

Responding to the report, police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said that the situation in the island is better than most of the countries with five star democracies .

The State Department report alleged that a number of suspects detained by police or other security forces died under questionable circumstances, there were several instances in which police were held accountable for unlawful killings .

The report also cited that the Asian Human Rights Council had compiled 1,500 cases of police torture between 1998 and 2001.

The police spokesman also told the media that the police categorically rejected all charges, PTI reports.

He said that Sri Lanka had adopted the Convention against torture and cruel inhuman or degrading Act in 1994.

For the last 18 years, only five policemen had been found guilty, not even one per year. This rate is better than most of the countries with five star democracies , said the police spokesman.

There has not been a single case of disappearances after police arrest. People have legal redress for any such happening, the spokesman said.

He said those arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act from the former battle zones in the north and east were handled by three separate units.

In response to accusations that detainee information had not been made available, SP Rohana said such information has been released to the close relatives of the detainees.

On the charges of police assault at times of arrest, he said that police may have used force when resisted arrest.

These incidents cannot be classified under torture and such cases are grossly exaggerated, he said.

We have educated all policemen about international conventions and human rights. Training entails such awareness including legal positions, SP Rohana said.

For the last 18 years, only five policemen had been found guilty, not even one per year. This rate is better than most of the countries with five star democracies , said the police spokesman.

when police investigate and prosecute their own crimes, they know how to investigate.

West impressed with reconciliation efforts
External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris returned to the island after successful official visits to Washington DC, Russia and Kazakhstan where he gained the confidence of these countries on Sri Lanka's ongoing national reconciliation process and its efforts to find a lasting home-grown solution to the national issue.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday completed 42 years since becoming a Parliamentarian, having first entered Parliament as its youngest MP in 1970. President Rajapaksa was elected a Member of Parliament for the Beliatta electorate at the May 27, 1970 general election.