ATTACK ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AT ‘GOTAGOGAMA’ AND’ MYNAGOGAMA’
9th May 2022
Colombo
PRESS RELEASE
ATTACK ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AT ‘GOTAGOGAMA’ AND’ MYNAGOGAMA’
Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) strongly condemns with disgust the inhumane attack on unarmed non-partisan peaceful protesters in ‘GotaGoGama’in Galle Face Green and ‘MainaGoGama’ in front of Temple Trees today.
These protesters have been staying for over one month in the premises of ‘GotaGogama’ forcing the President Gotabaya Rajapakshe to step down while another group of protesters have been staying for nearly two weeks in the premises of ‘MainaGogama’ in front of the Temple Trees demanding the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe to resign. After a meeting with the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe, these unarmed peaceful protesters have been attacked by the present and former cabinet ministers, members of parliament, repsentatives of local government and Pradeshiya Sabhas and Union Leaders attached to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Not only they brutally attacked the protesters but also set fire to the protest boards and tents set up in the ground.
SLWJA also have a deep disgust for the Sri Lanka Police for neglecting their duty to remain silent until all this happens.
Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association urges the immediate arrest of all former and current cabinet ministers, members of parliament, local government representatives and members of a private security firm that was at the forefront of these attacks including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe, who were directly or indirectly involved in these incidents and enforce the law against them.
Duminda Sampath Frank De Zoysa
President Secretary