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Video: Ranil in Weliweriya

02 Aug 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Weliweriya and the surrounding areas where the army is alleged to have assaulted unarmed villagers while they were demonstrating against the contamination of ground water.

UNP politicians including MPs John Amaratunga and Ruwan Wijewardena visited the area and spoke to some of the villagers who were alleged to have been assaulted by the army.

“We condemn what happened in the area,” Mr. Amaratunga said. Even the villagers who were inside St. Anthony’s Church, Weliweriya were also said to have been assaulted by the army.

“As a Catholic I feel sad at the manner in which the army had behaved inside the church,” Mr. Amaratunga said.

Meanwhile UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya addressing a news conference condemned the alleged attack on the villagers. “The people had only asked for water but the army responded with bullets,” Mr. Jayasuriya said.

He said according to the information they had received, villagers who were inside their houses and inside places of worship were also assaulted.

Daily Mirror reporters who were in the area said there were blood stains inside the church.

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) are carrying out investigations. (Lakna Paranamana and Sarasi Paranamanna)