Former President Maithripala Sirisena, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has said that the present government has committed the most heinous and foolish act committed by a government in recent history by aiding and abetting a assault against the people who were protesting peacefully in front of Galle Face Green and Temple Trees in Colombo.
The former President stated that the Prime Minister as well as President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa would have to resign soon due to the attack.
He added that the attack should not be carried out by a government.
He also condemned the government-led attack on innocent people as “despicable”.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena said this addressing a media briefing held today (9) at the office of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka by independent groups of parliamentarians.
The media briefing was convened to comment on the attack on people protesting peacefully in front of Galle Face Green and Temple Trees.
Udaya Gammanpila, the Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya said that according to the criminal law, all those who supported and who aided and abetted a crime should be arrested as aiding and abetting is a crime as well.
Without doing so, the government will not be able to bring peace and tranquility to the people, he said.
He said it was a problem that the police did nothing to stop the thugs from attacking the peaceful protesters and did not stop the thugs from reaching the Galle Face and if the state of emergency was imposed for public safety, it’s problematic why security forces were not called to protect peaceful protesters.
Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that this incident was a black mark in the history of Sri Lanka and that the President, the Prime Minister and all members of the government should take responsibility and leave.
He also said that they have committed an offense before the law. Leader of the National Freedom Front Wimal Weerawansa, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Member of Parliament Weerasumana Weerasinghe, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Dr. G. Weerasinghe also addressed the gathering.
