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NMSJ condemns Prasanna Ranatunga’s statement

13 Jun 2022

By Dinitha Rathnayake National Movement for Social Justice Chief Secretary Palitha Lihiniyakumara condemned Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga’s statement last Friday (10), where the latter alleged that Buddhist Monks and Catholic Clergy were behind riots that erupted on 9 May following the attack on peaceful protestors at Galle Face on the same day. Speaking in Parliament during messages of condolence for MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala, who was killed by a mob during the unrest on 9 May, Ranatunga said in Parliament that both the Buddhist temple and the Catholic Church were behind the violence.  “On 9 May, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and Ven. Sobhitha Thera had indirectly influenced the people to attack the properties of the MPs. The lawyers too have influenced the people to indulge in violence. They could have calmed the situation. Some members of the Catholic clergy gathered people to churches and influenced them to carry out the attacks. It should be investigated,” he stressed. Meanwhile, Lihiniyakumara said: “We condemn, with utmost contempt, the statement made by Minister Ranatunga that the Buddhist monks and the Catholic and Christian clergy were behind the catastrophic events that took place in this country on 9 May. “In fact, these destructive actions were attributed to the activities of the country’s leading politicians and their followers. It is now well known to the whole world. He should not forget that at that time Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was in charge of the police in this country. In fact, he has to take responsibility for his failure. “Against this backdrop, he should apologise to all religious clergy and people of this country, also abstain from further abuse of Parliament, the supreme body of the country, by respecting the judgement given to him by the courts of this country,” the National Movement for Social Justice noted.


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