1. Witness testimony: “At first the police seemed to be on one side of the Kegalle road. In front of it, three police officers were hiding behind a three-wheeler. I was in the middle, between the protesters and the police. There were three police officers hiding behind a threewheeler and a senior officer wearing the national emblem and two stars. After a while, three civilians arrived. I do not know who they are. The three pelted the police with stones. Then the senior officer said, 'Tear gas. Strike”. Then the three police officers fired tear gas while hiding behind the three-wheeler. Then the senior officer said 'this is not going to work, shoot and kill them'. Then the police opened fire. I ran along Madawala Road. A lot of other guys ran with me. The police chased us and shot us. The police shot at us as we ran. I ran and entered a temple and stopped”.68 2. Testimony of Saman Kumari, the wife of the deceased Chaminda Lakshan “I have two children. My husband said he was going to the shed to refuel. Then someone called me and told me that your husband had been shot by the police. I went to Kegalle Hospital. I saw my husband in a hospital stretcher. Then I came home. While we were at home, an army truck carrying armed men came to our house. There were about twenty officers, among them were two star-studded officials. They told me, “We came to help you. We will do everything”. They brought a tent and built it. They brought us food and drink. After a while I told them that my husband had never worked in the military or in any of the security forces so I do not need your help. Then they left. That group came to our house this morning as well. I told them, "Sir, you don't have to stay." That tent is still there. My husband was shot and killed. This is not going to be the last death. They will shoot and kill more people. So do justice to my husband. They are murderers in star-studded uniforms”.69 2.7.3 Transfer of police officers It was reported by the media division of the Police Department that the Officer in Charge (OIC) and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Rambukkana Police and the SSP of Kegalle Police had been transferred with immediate effect. The purpose of the transfer was described as to allow the “aggrieved parties and witnesses in the Rambukkana police shooting incident to take part in the investigations and court proceedings independently”.70 ‘"Shoot and kill them," said an officer’ Lankadeepa, 21 April 2022. https://www.lankadeepa.lk/latest_news/%E2%8 0%98%E2%80%98%E0%B6%95%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%99%E0% B6%A9%E0%B7%92-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%BB%E0 %B6%B4%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%98%E2%80%98-%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%B0%E 0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%99%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%92% E0%B7%80%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%8F/1-611862 69 Ibid 70 ‘Three police officers transferred over Rambukkana incident’ Ada Derana, 21 April 2022. http://www.adaderana. lk/news/81960/three-police-officers-transferred-over-rambukkana-incident 68 19