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Last Updated : 2024-05-10 09:57:00
18 May 2022 04:48 pm - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Revealing that Western Province DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon told President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the IGP informed him not to use teargas or water cannon to disperse those attacking 'GotaGoGama' protesters, former minister Ramesh Pathirana said today the attack was stopped even at that point due to the intervention of the President.
He told Parliament that the attack on protesters were carried out by a small group of people who gathered at Temple Trèes due to influence of some MPs.
"I was at Temple Trees when the incident happened. We participated in the meeting at Temple Trees to bid farewell to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was to resign that day. I phoned DIG Thennakoon soon after I got to know that the protesters are going to be attacked. He told me that all road blocks had been set up and steps would be taken to prevent it. I then proceed to the President's House to attend a meeting. On my way there, former MP Ashu Marasinghe phoned me and said a serious incident is going to happen please tell the President to stop it. Then, I told the President that a serious incident is going to happen, please stop it immediately. Then, the President phoned DIG Thennakoon, who said that he was instructed by the IGP not to use teargas or water cannon to disperse the attackers. The President then said 'I am the President who is telling you to stop it. It was at that point that the teargas and water cannon was used . If not for President's intervention, the damage would have been worse," he said.
He said as claimed by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament today, DIG Thennakoon had given a statement to Human Rights Commission that the IGP and the Secretary to the Public Security Ministry had instructed not to prevent the attackers on 'GotaGoGama'.
Mr. Pathirana said only about ten percent of those who attended the meeting at Temple Trees participated in the attack on 'GotaGoGama, protesters and that those who were not connected to the attack had to face harassment on their way back.
He said the government and the President did not use teargas or water cannon on protesters and that has been the policy of the government. "This 'GotaGoGama' protest has been there for about a month without any attack. Neither the government nor the President wanted to attack them," he said.
The MP said police and army did not take any action to prevent the attacks on their houses and acts of arson on the evening of the incident.
"We have no hope that justice will be meted out to us. Those who were connected to the violence after the May 9 attack were released soon even though there was clear evidence. Lawyers clap their hands when criminals get bail," he said. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)
Know All Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:15 PM
Lawyers applaud when criminals get bail. No there was a time people applauded criminals who looted our country and voted for them.
nuwan Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:23 PM
Then who is over riding the president? Are these magical orders coming from the Shamen in Anuradhapura?
Sam Silva Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:23 PM
Unbelievable your story.
D S de Silva Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:34 PM
Thats all cock and bull story mate, there was every intention and very well planned to attack the protestors. The Rajapakse thugs initiated it with a plan and then executed. Now you are crying foul because your properties were destroyed, something you never thought would happen. All of you thought that the protest was at galle face, no the people were provoked all over the island,because they had enough of the governments lies and bullshit.
Lan Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:34 PM
what a lie is this? who created this mess and who looted public money and who messed up the economy of this country. It is easy to talk nonsense but people are highly educated to know the root cause of this crisis. tell much money is wasted by this family rule and how people have become poor.
ravin Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:55 PM
Strange!! but true. Its not a news for us. Just to mind you, you are one of those handful of educated guys in diyawannaa. Technology is such a advanced stage, whole world know what transpired on that day.
Kathira Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:58 PM
Ha ha ha bed time stories...
Kathira Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:58 PM
Ha ha ha bed time stories...
Premalal Perera Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:15 PM
Foiled on their world is total destruction, broken heads, broken limbs and causing mayhem. Do we need a President if he cannot control his own brother.
joshua Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:23 PM
who believes these utterance?
George Kingsly Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:25 PM
Is he a child? When the general public is so angry why did he organized a crowd for temple trees, he cannot escape from his deeds.
Chris O Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:38 PM
Immediately arrest IGP for treason and dereliction of duty. He along with former PM and SDIG Thenakoon all should be in prison. Both are senior Police officers who have taken oath to uphold law and order. They have actively supported a state of anarchy by their failure to uphold the law. The statement by SDIG is self incriminatory and he should already be under arrest.
Lanka Shantha Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:45 PM
I think, when they started to attack, social media went in to full blast. Near by office youngsters answered to them followed by law college and Universities.
gamarala Wednesday, 18 May 2022 07:20 PM
When you sleep with dogs, you have to wake up with ticks (Balloth ekka nidagattama makkoth ekka nagutinna wenawa).
Silva Wednesday, 18 May 2022 07:22 PM
they want to put the whole blame to the IGP and get rid of him. Reason is that he recently told openly that all this happens because of the continuous interference by politicians in the police. He told that infront of the President, that was his verdict.
Dinesh Wednesday, 18 May 2022 07:25 PM
lets see who the scape goat is...
Nomads Wednesday, 18 May 2022 07:47 PM
The one big farewell ceremony or the thugs rally turned this into a freak show and caused your houses burned down to ground. Public knows how well your president took actions to control the deliberate attack. Spill out if u have anymore reason to run down the memory lane of recalling the classic bath at beira lake an experience of lifetime.
Nimal Wednesday, 18 May 2022 08:09 PM
Who foiled it?
Spartacus Wednesday, 18 May 2022 08:15 PM
Utter bullshit story.
Decentgent Wednesday, 18 May 2022 08:18 PM
In other countries, when such incidents had taken place, the Police officials and others against whom the investigations are ongoing, they should be stripped of their official positions n jailed until their cases are completed n if found guilty, they should be given life sentences.
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