Groups with sticks to control protesters could be Avant-Garde para-military: AKD

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

The military groups that came carrying weapons and sticks  (Kurundu Polu) to control protesters could be para-military maintained  by the Avant-Garde, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara  Dissanayake said yesterday.  

He told parliament that a military spokesman had said that  the military groups that came to control the protests could not be  confirmed as the official government military.  

The MP said the military personnel had carried weapons and  wooden sticks and added that the official military should carry standard  batons with the correct length, shape and colour. 

 
“These are thugs who came carrying clubs. It is a disgrace  to the military in the country. Avant-Garde maintained para-military  groups of this nature. We have doubts whether these military groups are  para-military of the Avant-Garde,” he said.