Govt. and state media putting political spin on Weliweriya tragedy

The government and the state media have already taken steps to give a political interpretation for the unfortunate incident which occurred in Rathupaswela, UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya stated.

Speaking at a press conference today (August 5), he said that Minister Dullas Alahapperuma had claimed that the protest regarding water was taken over by a political group but Jayasuriya stated that he was talking for the people and not for any narrow political gains.

The MP highlighted among the three dead was a boy who would have otherwise being sitting for the Advanced Level examination which began today along with another innocent victim who was waiting for a bus after work. He also added that forty others were hospitalized after the incident.

He stated that the only thing left to do is to give these people access to clean water as well as finding and punishing those responsible for the attacks.

Jayasuriya told the media that although Syria’s dictator had answered the people’s pleas for democracy with guns and bombs, this should not happen in civilized society.

He revealed that the people of the area had requested several opposition members to join the protest but the politicians abstained to avoid mixing any politics into the issue but instead put pressure on authorities to resolve the issue.

The MP stated that the members of the Buddhist clergy too had engaged in a peaceful demonstration and non-violent protest over the issue and had communicated with the authorities in a civil manner whereas he expressed his regret over incidents of army soldiers harassing those in churches, threatening them and firing their weapons in places of worship.

He also added that due to these actions innocent lives were lost while the image of the soldiers which had been loved and respected by the people had been blemished.