CMC ruling and opposition members seeks justice for assaulted SLPP member

• The person who attacked me had allegedly taken money from some private companies in Colombo to provide COVID-19 vaccines for their employees
• He had also lodged a complaint saying we attacked him. The police record only says that there was a clash between us which is far from being the truth

By Yohan Perera 

Both the ruling party and the opposition parties representing the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) had come against a local politician who is representing a major political party in Colombo after he had allegedly taken money from city dwellers in Wellawatte to provide COVID-19 vaccines. All members of CMC had come against him after he had assaulted the SLPP member of the council, W. Sumithralatha earlier this month. 

Ms. Sumithralatha told Daily Mirror that she visited the community centre and the Grama Niladari office which are located on the same land as the work on the project was underway. “This person had come to the location by the time I arrived. Those in the Grama Niladari office informed me that another member of CMC had arrived.  

I protested and said this person is not a member of CMC. Then he got angry and started assaulting me. My husband grabbed me just then when my son also intervened, questioning as to who assaulted his mother. At that moment this person made some phone calls and some thugs arrived and started attacking us. We lodged a complaint with the Wellawatte Police. We were informed that this person had also lodged a complaint saying we attacked him. The police record only says that there was a clash between us which is far from being the truth,” she said. 

“This person who attacked me had allegedly taken money from some private companies in Colombo to provide COVID-19 vaccines for their employees. I have also informed the Divisional Secretariat office about my attackers; real identity, as he was dominating there. He was having a grudge with me for this, and I requested Mayor Rosy Senanayake to intervene in the matter and mete out justice to me,” she also said. 

Meanwhile, CMC Member Sunanda Liyana Pathirana also confirmed that there have been cases where money has been demanded from people to provide COVID vaccines. “A sum of Rs 5,000 have been demanded from the city dwellers in Wellawatte,” he said. 

CMC Member Shermila Gonawala said this is the first time a woman member of CMC is been assaulted. “I was the solitary woman member of CMC some time ago, and I was respected by the male members of the council. Action should be taken against this member, who is actually the secretary of another Member of CMC ,” she said. 
Ms. Gonawala requested the Mayor to bring the matter to the attention of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa so that they can intervene in meting out Justice to Ms. Sumithralatha. 
UNP Member of CMC Roy Bogahawatte suggested that legal assistance should be given to this member. “She may be representing another party. However, we should come together irrespective of party differences as it is a member of our council who has been attacked,” he said. 

JVP Member of the Council H. P Sumith also condemned the assault and called for action. 

Mayor Rosy Senanayake said assaulting a person is an offense according to the penal code. 

“I will definitely look into the matter and see to it that legal assistance is given to Ms. Sumithralatha as it is a serious issue,” she said.