Police used live bullets – ICEU

30 May 2011 10:43 am

The Inter Company Employees Union today alleged that live bullets were used to disperse protesters against the private pension scheme in Katunayake this afternoon

ICEU President Vasantha Samarasinghe said that Trade Union action will be taken and called for the release of protesters in police custody.

More than 40 persons were injured in the police attack and being treated at the Ragama and Negambo hospitals, the ICEU said. The union said that they would continue to escalate action if the government did not withdraw the bill.

The Union also said that the attack was a planned attack and that they had provoked the employees who in turn had retaliated by staging a walk out. The Union said that the employees were then dispersed using tear gas and batons by the police and STF.

Meanwhile Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya stated that a special investigation has been initiated by the CID and a team has been sent to probe the clash which took place in Katunayake. (Nabbeela Hussein and SD)