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Assault on bus driver; Media presented only one-sided story: Kasun

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21 March 2018 08:30 pm - 30     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Southern Provincial Councillor M.K. Kasun, who is under remand custody over the alleged assault on a bus driver, making a special speech at the Southern Council meeting on Tuesday said that the media had presented only one side of the story that had misleadingly portrayed him as an underworld figure.

After arriving at Tuesday’s council meeting with Prison security officers, he said the people ought to question whether a firearm had been given to him by the Council for his protection, or to be locked up in a safe.

The Councillor, who appeared very emotional while speaking, said he was glad that a number of his fellow Councillors had agreed with his views.
Councillor Kasun said of the incident:

“I was returning from Malabe to Colombo that day. The car park at Odel is located on the ground floor. My vehicle was heading towards the ground floor when I heard someone honking his horn. I noticed it was from the vehicle behind mine, and so I went forward and stopped the vehicle.”

“The driver of a bus which had just alighted approached me from the right. The conductor approached from the left, where my wife was seated. He asked me why I had driven forward and assaulted me. I was injured, later requiring four stitches on my lip. I could not do anything to defend myself, so I got out of my car and struck the driver.”

“Then, onlookers joined in and assaulted me with helmets and other items they could pick up from the site.”

Kasun said his wife could no longer witness the assault on her husband without intervening and took the gun given to him by the Provincial Council from the glove compartment of his car.

The Councillor stated: “This [weapon] was given to me [by the Council]. Instead of showing the entire incident, video footage only shows her carrying the weapon. We were remanded on charges of assault on the driver and for using a firearm. It’s important to question whether this weapon was given to keep locked in a safe, or for an emergency like this, which had arisen where my life was threatened?”

The Councillor claimed the bus which runs on route 177 between Kollupitiya and Kaduwela belongs to an underworld gang leader.

“My father was killed fifteen years ago within the Colombo High-Security Zone. My wife who was present during my incident took maximum steps to defend. Due to this, she is now suffering in remand. I’m asking for justice and call upon all to reveal the truth.”
At this point, Council Member Nalin Hewage (JVP) spoke.

Nalin Hewage (JVP): “Mr Chairman, five of us have not obtained firearms. Prior to this incident, we were unaware that firearms had been given to all the other members. Therefore, we request a list of the members, who have been provided with firearms as we five are the only unarmed, while the other fifty are armed.

“Why do peoples’ representatives require firearms? If there is an issue about security, get a security officer. Take back these firearms and set up a security system instead.”

The Chairman: “Firearms have been given by the Ministry of Defence only to Councillors on request and not to all individuals.

Nalin Hewage: “Why is there a need for firearms for certain council members? We [JVP members] too travel by buses.

Sampath Athukorale (UPFA): “The need for firearms exists in light of incidents from history because of certain people.”

Ashoka Danawansa (UNP): I have not obtained a firearm.

Discussion intensified as Hewage continued to state people’s representatives need not be armed and members of the Joint Opposition attempted to prevent him speaking further.

The Chairman postponed the session for fifteen minutes as he could no longer control the session. (D.G. Sugathapala and Sumathipala Diyagahage)


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  Comments - 30

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  • Shan Wednesday, 21 March 2018 09:05 PM

    Very innocent thug wearing a sheep's skin and speaking dove's language.

    johan Wednesday, 21 March 2018 09:39 PM

    Yes Yes we know how innocent are our politicians.They are innocent when begging for votes only. After wontheir colors will come up

    Appuhaamy Wednesday, 21 March 2018 09:59 PM

    REMOVE THUGS FROM POLITICS!!!

    stardust Wednesday, 21 March 2018 09:58 PM

    An other JO thug in parliament via DM Android App

    Kumar Wednesday, 21 March 2018 10:10 PM

    Oh! how right you are the papers showed the pistol packing Mama holding the crowd at bay while you pummeled the bus driver jerk. Don't forget you threw the first punch. We call it road rage.

    tishan Wednesday, 21 March 2018 10:15 PM

    The gun is given to this man.He has no right to give it to this fat crazy woman.This prooves he is irresponsible and one day some body might get killed. It is the responsibility of the ministry of defence to take this gun back.In other countries they do a background check before they issue a gun to an individual, .

    abc Wednesday, 21 March 2018 10:35 PM

    That's not what we saw in the video clip.

    kondaya77 Wednesday, 21 March 2018 11:00 PM

    Why do all politicians in Sri Lanka need guns and a security detail? If you are afraid do not be political.

    vasaliya Wednesday, 21 March 2018 11:00 PM

    Ane...JO thoththa baba....all JO members are hooligans and thugs....

    Upul Wednesday, 21 March 2018 11:37 PM

    Please do not try to paint a complete different picture of what happened, as we all saw the live version of the incident. I can imagine you becoming a thug as it had been in your blood, but, it is sad to see that you have influenced your wife to get involved in thug behaviour.

    Buddhist Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:10 AM

    Women acting like that proves the thuggery they practice. No decent women Will act like that.

    Ram Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:30 AM

    Those who cannot defend with kind word or two must not enter politics. Today they enter politics for the glory of it plus to make money. Politicians are a menace on the roads. All the firearms must be withdrawn from all politicians

    Vijitha Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:37 AM

    Of course this fellow is very innocent who does not harm even an ant. His wife is equally harmless and was .trying to play a game with a toy pistol. It is unfortunate that a notorious bus driver assaulted him and his wife

    Ash Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:37 AM

    The innocent people pay for these goons and their fancies.

    Lankaputha Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:45 AM

    Yes there is two sides to a coin but you have know rights to hit him being a politician you should behave like one. unless and until you are a thug. Why dint you let the law deal with it.Shame on you and a big one on your wife. you fools

    Lankan in USA Thursday, 22 March 2018 02:35 AM

    Baby talking. Video recording watching all over the world. These fools people’s elected members. Really uneducated or power of the party leaders. Should send to jail for five years. And never allowed to enter politics.

    Jude Thursday, 22 March 2018 08:47 AM

    Firstly, how come a Councilor shopping at pricey ODEL !!???? He committed Road Rage by attempting to attack driver who was honking him!! To make matters worse other assailant his wife wielding a gun!!! Hey Councilor you don't have a side!!!?? They say "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree" and you'll suffer the same fate as your father!!???

    dulan Thursday, 22 March 2018 08:50 AM

    Now they are not just given Car permits, secretary(family member) allowance, huge phone allowances, stationery allowances, housing allowance, lap tops, office rent etc but also a GUN

    kukula Thursday, 22 March 2018 08:52 AM

    Firearms given by the ministry of defense, Which defense ministry? Was it during the previous regime?

    Bala Thursday, 22 March 2018 08:54 AM

    Like the famous Silva excuse, it was always the other chaps fault. The victim assaulted himself !!

    Jaliya Thursday, 22 March 2018 08:58 AM

    We really don't know what has happened here... either party is not trustworthy nor reliable. Bus drivers are no saints either we have seen their recklessness too. Is there any other videos that might give us the whole picture as to what happened ?

    johan Thursday, 22 March 2018 09:13 AM

    Yes Yes we have only innocent politicians to serve the people.Only when they go out to beg votes they show theirinnocence after win, their colors will be up.

    sam Thursday, 22 March 2018 09:18 AM

    He and the Driver both seem to have studied from the same school.

    DillonDP Thursday, 22 March 2018 09:22 AM

    People should bring no confidence motions against such fools

    Triple X Thursday, 22 March 2018 09:41 AM

    US is finding difficulties in "gun control " with public. Sri Lanka's difficulty is getting control of petty politicians.

    Christine Thursday, 22 March 2018 10:23 AM

    If councellors are armed with guns as mentioned how can civilians enter the council premises to meet them for official matters. More importanly these people appointed to hold these positions should act with selfrespect, calm and dignity.

    Tom Bala Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:14 PM

    All peoples reps who have taken guns please turn them on to yourselves. What a relief that would be !

    ranga Thursday, 22 March 2018 01:39 PM

    I would like to see where in the constitution it allows petty politicos to bare arms. They are neither military nor police and I higly doubt they have any training to use a firearm. If his wife is doubling as his body guard then its totally acceptable.

    alexander Thursday, 22 March 2018 03:26 PM

    Hang him by his family jewels and use his weapon for target practice oh his posterior,

    Palli Kanda Thursday, 22 March 2018 07:09 PM

    A Councillor graduated with honours from Mahinda school of thuggery.


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