• Some members of the public who have volunteered and come forward to  remove those blockades on their own, for which we would like to pay  tribute to such volunteers

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

The Sri Lanka Army urged the public, engaged in protests, to assist the unhindered passage of transport movements without blocking roads and causing inconvenience to the public.

 Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva said on Thursday that the Sri Lanka Army at the request of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has deployed Army troops and other forces to assist the unhindered passage of transport movements since April 20.

“In the face of present economic constraints, people of Sri Lanka in various areas are holding protests and agitations in a peaceful manner. We have to-date, not caused any hindrance to such peaceful protests. However, a few elements, who have shown up at those places were seen in the past few days engaged in particularly blocking road movements, causing inconvenience to the public and transport of fuel supplies and essentials to different island-wide areas”, the Commander said.

“Some members of the public who have volunteered and come forward to remove those blockades on their own, for which we would like to pay tribute to such volunteers”, General Silva said.

The Commander requested the public to lend support at this critical juncture to all the armed forces and the Police for the passage of essentials to the public by dispensing with roadblocks and other obstructions, in the same they cooperated with the armed forces in the control of the most recent COVID-19 epidemic and the war against terrorism in the past.