• The military will assist the Police if such assistance is sought by the Police to defend the nation, uphold the constitution and restore the peace and order 
• Appropriate legal measures will be instituted by the Police against those who destroy or damage public property and/or private property

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne said yesterday that there are no plans to abuse military power by unleashing it on peaceful protesters.   

He made these remarks responding to the Facebook note of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in which he appealed to Secretary of Defence Kamal Gunaratne and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva to think deeply before implementing orders to suppress peaceful public protests.   

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said that military forces will not be deployed to suppress democratically held peaceful protests.   

However, the military will assist the Police if only such assistance is sought by the Police to defend the nation, uphold the constitution and restore the peace and order among all Sri Lankans in the event of a violent uprising, the Ministry said.   Secretary of Defence informing the public that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who love the country and the people are a morally upright force further states that there is no truth in rumours circulating on social media about an idea to send members of the intelligence services to the peaceful protesters and use them to disperse the protesters or to provoke them through something like a bomb blast.   

The Ministry whilst pointing out the various elements that are working to achieve their ulterior motives during the peaceful protest wishes to inform the public that appropriate legal measures will be instituted by the Police against those who destroy or damage public property and/or private property under the pretext of peaceful protests and those who lead it.