BY Pamodi Waravita
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) said yesterday (10) that 55 patients were receiving treatment as of yesterday, from the total 105 injured who were brought to the NHSL last Saturday (9).
“One-hundred-and-five people were brought to the hospital last Saturday. Fifty-five remain at the hospital and we hope to discharge most of them soon,” NHSL sources told The Morning yesterday.
According to NHSL sources, one patient remains in critical condition.
Last Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people descended upon the “GotaGoGama” protest site at Galle Face Green, where they ultimately took over the Presidential Secretariat, the official residence of the President and Temple Trees – the official residence of the Prime Minister. The three buildings remain occupied, with key protestors stating that they would remain occupied until President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s official resignation, which Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has stated will happen on Wednesday (13).
Prior to the occupation, armed forces were seen shooting at protestors in front of the President’s house, with several rounds of tear gas being fired at Chatham Street as well, leading to multiple injuries. In particular, video footage of one protestor being rushed to medical aid shows a severely injured head.
The Morning’s attempts to contact Military Spokesperson Brig. Nilantha Premaratne yesterday – about whether these shots were rounds of live ammunition and whether investigations would occur into why some video footage captures armed personal shooting in the direction of protestors instead of into the air – proved futile.
Later during the day, protestors were again tear-gassed outside the private residence of Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe at Fifth Lane, while journalists were also assaulted by the Special Task Forces (STF).
55 patients still at NHSL after protests
11 Jul 2022
55 patients still at NHSL after protests
11 Jul 2022