Politician behind attack - Karu

5 February 2011 07:00 am Views - 8940

By Gandhya Senanayake

A prominent Colombo politician is behind the attack on the UNP protest yesterday, but we will not be deterred by these obstacles as we owe it to the people, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya told Daily Mirror online.

“We don’t believe the police version of the account and several police personnel not taking action when these thugs were roaming about freely”, he said

The Deputy leader added that the UNP was conducting a peaceful protest calling for the release of former army commander Sarath Fonseka when they came under attack in Borella.

Several person were injured and vehicles were badly damaged when an armed group attacked the protesters with swords, bicycle chains, knifes, iron rods and Molotov cocktails, Karu Jayasuriya said   

Furthermore he said that  the protest which consisted of 800 or more supporters were peacefully calling for the release of  former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka as they believe that he was behind the suppression of the LTTE and  played a key role in winning the peace.

“It is an insult to the country when a peaceful protest is attacked on its Independence Day, what Independence is there? When freedom of expression is curtailed and freedom of assembly is not guaranteed.  This is not the first time these incidents have occurred”, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said.  (Daily Mirror online)