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Former President CBK warns against possibility of junta 

11 May 2022

  • Urges public to refrain from violence and to be vigilant of saboteurs of peaceful struggle  
  • BASL to ensure legal action against ‘MainaGoGama’/’GotaGoGama’ attackers 
  • SLMA warns of drug and surgical requirements shortage if no. of injured and injury severity increases 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called on the people not to engage in any acts of violence, as there is a possibility for such acts to pave the way for a military rule in the country. “I appeal to all our citizens who have carried out a wonderful struggle for justice and democratic governance so peacefully, to be aware that saboteurs may be used to incite violence in order to pave the way for a military rule. Please use your organisational skills to halt this danger," Tweeted Kumaratunga. Meanwhile, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on the general public to remain calm and to not resort to violence against any persons or to destroy any public or private property. BASL President Saliya Pieris PC said that the BASL would take every possible step to ensure that the people who unleashed the brutal attack on the peaceful protestors in front of the Temple Trees and at the Galle Face Green would be dealt with according to the law. The BASL also condemned the violence launched by a mob of Government supporters who met former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and then attacked the two main protest sites, “MainaGoGama” and “GotaGoGama”. Furthermore, while condemning the attack on unarmed protestors in front of the Temple Trees and at the Galle Face Green, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has warned of an increase in the prevailing shortage of pharmaceutical drugs and surgical consumables if the violence continues and more patients are admitted to hospitals.  The statement signed by SLMA President, Prof. Samath D. Dharmaratne, and SLMA Secretary Prof. Ishan De Zoysa read: “The SLMA condemns the attack on unarmed civilians in front of the Temple Trees and at the Galle Face Green. Over 100 injured patients have been admitted to hospital following this brutal attack by a group of supporters of the Government. The attackers were armed with batons and sticks, which indicate that the attack was pre-planned. The injuries that were caused were of a more serious nature than the ones caused in other recent incidents.” Observing that more violent incidents are likely to occur in the coming days unless serious remedial action is taken, the SLMA stated that the prevailing shortage of drugs and surgical consumables can increase if the violence continues and more patients would be admitted to hospitals.  “The continuous trade union actions planned from today (11) will add to the woes of the people. The political authority has lost its ability to govern the country peacefully. Therefore, the SLMA appeals to the political authority to bow to the wishes of the people. We also appeal to the citizens to carry out their protests in a peaceful manner,” it added. Former Speaker and incumbent National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman Karu Jayasuriya also commented on the incident of peaceful protestors being attacked by pro-Government protestors and the subsequent chain of events. In a communication regarding it, he said that the well-planned and organised mob attack targeting peaceful protestors near the Temple Trees and near the Galle Face Green was a barbaric and despicable act, adding that the NMSJ, as a civil society organisation that works on the basis of justice and fairness, condemns the incident.  “All leaders who have directed their forces to such an inhuman and barbaric attack must take responsibility for it and the law should be enforced to the fullest against all those who unleashed violence. This incident clearly demonstrates the naked violence and dictatorship of a Party that acts only for power without listening to the voice of the people.”  He further said that it would be a tragedy for the nation as a whole, especially in a country where so many lives have been lost due to violence and anti-democratic practices over the past decades, if any force or leader returns to such violence.  “At this juncture, we urge the peaceful people of the country to come forward to prevent our motherland from falling victim to such tragedies again, and urge all civil and political forces who value democracy to act swiftly to safeguard the freedoms and rights of the people, as well as the peace of the country,” Jayasuriya added. More than 150 people were admitted to the National Hospital of Colombo on Monday (9), following the tense situation that erupted near the Temple Trees and spread out to the Galle Face Green protest site. A group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters, who had come to meet with Rajapaksa on Monday, attacked the “MynaGoGama” and “GotaGoGama” anti-Rajapaksa and anti-Government protest sites set up in front of the Temple Trees and the Galle Face Green, respectively. They were seen assaulting the peaceful protestors at the sites while destroying the tents and other makeshift constructions that had been set up at the protest sites. Following the said attacks, the buses and vehicles by which the SLPP supporters had reached Colombo were smashed and set on fire by the people. In addition, several houses and properties belonging to SLPP MP were also attacked and set on fire by the people in many parts of the country. Also, Rajapaksa, whom the SLPP supporters who had gathered at the Temple Trees on that day had requested not to resign, had handed over his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after which his resignation was published in a Gazette notification issued by the President.


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